CAF Confederation Cup: "Why We Delayed Rivers United Players Salary" - State Govt

CAF Confederation Cup: "Why We Delayed Rivers United Players Salary" - State Govt

By Niyi Busari

Rivers State Government has cleared the air on why the players November salary has not been paid, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Chris Green has said that the delay in payment of players' salary for the month of November is a measure by the state to bring the best out of the players following their recent poor performance. He denied the state owing the players balance of estacode. He said the agreed amount has been paid by the state government.

In the last seven matches, the Pride of Rivers won three, drew two and lost two games in all competitions. The Commissioner said despite the players being among the highest paid in the league without delay in payment with other emoluments to encourage them in winning games, the players were not doing enough and needed a stiff measure to get them back on track.

Following delay in payment of November salary and payment of the balance of their estacode for the trip to Ghana in their second group match against Dream FC, BSN Sports had reported that the players, in protest, wanted to boycott their CAF Confederation Cup third match versus Club Africaine of Tunisia which will hold at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Sunday.

Reacting to the publication by www.bsnsports.com.ng, Green said, "these players are the highest paid in the country. They earn as much as Nine hundred thousand naira (N900,000) and some Eight hundred thousand naira (N800,000) as salary without being owed a dime. This is to make sure that they are focused and give good results back to the state and Nigeria but the players were not committed, so, we decided to take a measure to get back on track.

He added, "Their November salary is intact but was withheld as measure in bringing the best in them. In their contract, everything is performance based. The management noticed that despite all the good gestures the players were replicating by good performance on the pitch. 

No club in Nigeria pay estacode for players but we did that for the players to encourage then to give their best at the continent but what did they give in return?

"Payment of estacode is not in their contract, it's not a right but a privilege. Rivers United is the only club in Nigeria that pays players same day they sign for the club. All the bonuses are duly paid without owing any. 

"We have done everything in making sure that they qualify for the quarter-final of the CAF Confederation Cup but the results were not in tandem with they get." Green concluded.

With three points points from three matches, Rivers United are in distant third position behind Group C table toppers, Club Africaine (6 points) and Dream FC who are on the same points (3) with Rivers United. Only the top two teams in the group qualify for the quarter-final.

Out of the four Nigeria representatives at the 2023/24 CAF Club competitions, only Rivers United made it to the group stages.

Rivers United will trade tackles with Club Africaine of Tunisia on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.