Former Ondo players disrupt team’s training session over unpaid sign-on fees
FORMER players of Sunshine Stars, Sunshine Queens, Rising Stars and Rising Queens yesterday in Akure, Ondo State, disrupted the training session of Sunshine Stars FC over the non-payment of their signon fees.
The ex-players chased members of the team away from the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
Former Sunshine Queens player, Esther Michael, told journalists that she got injured while playing for the club but was abandoned to her fate.
Michael added that she had remained without a job since sustaining a careerthreatening injury five years ago, while playing for the club.
She disclosed that no form of help came from the management of the Ondo State Football Agency since that period.
She said, “For almost five years after I was injured and spent my entire earnings on treating myself, I have had no job.
“We are therefore appealing to Ondo State Government to help us out.
“I played almost five years for this team, the injury I had, government and management didn’t help me. So, they should pay us our money.”
Former Sunshine Stars player, James Moses, said government should honour the agreement it entered into with the players and pay them their sign-on fees.
Moses, fondly called “Okomu’’ in his playing days by fans, said the love they had for the team had prevented them from taking legal action against the management.
He said, “The state has been
SOME smashers on Monday began their campaign in the first edition of Senforce Insurance Brokers Tennis Masters on a good note at the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos.
The Senforce Insurance competition is new and part of series of tennis events being staged by the elite club under the leadership of Tennis Section Chairman, Bimbo Okubena, in the past three months to entertain its members and lovers of the game.
The competition is a seaowing us sign-on fees for long and we have been begging for them to pay us.
“Sunshine was my first son-ending event at the club like the ATP Masters and the top eight players from the Men’s Division A and B of the club’s ladder are competing for honours.
On Monday, Labisi Abayomi defeated Akeem Mustapha 6/4, 6/1, Nishant Abbi was 6/0, 6/1 better than Chinedu Idike, Bimbo Okubena defeated Amos Gagar 6/3, 6/1, while Ezomo Imoukhuede defeated Gbenga Familoni.
In other matches, Sesan Dada defeated Femi Nedd 7/5, 6/2 in a very keenly contested encounter, while club, I love Sunshine so much. I want them to pay us our money that is due to us. “We are calling on the state governor to help us because some of us have families to take care of.”
In his reaction, Tajudeen Akinyemi, Chairman, Ondo State Football Agency, said the previous government agreed to pay the money in 15 instalments but was only able to offset eight. Akinyemi said the file for the remaining seven months had been sent to the Head of Service, who had raised the issue with the governor of the state. He promised that government would accelerate action on the file to ensure that the former players were paid.
Okubena, Abayomi in good start at Senforce Insurance Tennis Masters
Bola Ayorinde recorded an easy victory of 6/1, 6/4 over Muyiwa Kayode
More hostilities are expected today at the Ikoyi Club 1938 tennis courts as the event gets to crucial stages. Okubena, who incidentally won his first match on Monday, said the competition had been very interesting and competitive so far. “We are pleased with the overall response of the club members. Those who are not playing also came in large numbers to support those in action. This is very good,” Okubena said.