INSIDE THE CLUBS

Warri Wolves
Players of the club are still groaning over the unpaid balance of their signing-on fees for the 2008/2009 season. One of the players revealed that the club is still owing them 50 per cent of their fees. In spite of the remainder of their signing-on fees still pending, the club is bracing up for the coming season. The camp of Warri Wolves is set to re-open on July 12 with Akpokona assuming the head coach roll. Seventeen days after the camp re-opens, the club would be embarking on a training tour of France and Holland. The pre-season training tour, according to Delta State Sports Commission chairman, Pinnick Amaju, would expose the side to first-class facilities and tested opponents.

Akwa United
In the wake of its relegation to the National Division I League, the executive council of the club’s supporters has been dissolved. In place of the sacked executive body is a five-man electoral committee set up to oversee the affairs of the supporters before conduction fresh election for the vacant positions in the club. The dissolution of the executive council took effect after a general meeting on June 23 inside the Uyo Township Stadium. The five-man committee includes Effiom Akpan as chairman, Sunday Otu (secretary), Enefiok Udoh (chief adviser), Eyo Eyip and Friday Asuquo as members. The timetable for the election into the vacant seats would be known soon. In another development, the management of the club has continued to state that Akwa United has not been relegated from the Premier League since it has a case before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) against Kaduna United and Zamfara United.

JUTH FC
The teaching hospital side is no doubt planning to adjust to life in the second-tier of the Nigerian league. In a bid to start preparation for next season, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Football Club has set resumption date to camp for its players as August 3. Spokesman of the club, Olusola Alao, told naijaligue.blogspot.com that the date was fixed by the management of the club in order to allow players recover from the hectic schedule of the past season. “The players still have a lot of time to rest. Our camp will not open until August 3 and that is when we will know the players that will remain with us,” Alao said.

Bayelsa United
The dream of winning a treble came to an end in Owerri last Saturday in the first semi-final of the Federation Cup against Enyimba. Bayelsa United, which had earlier won the league title, lost by a lone goal to the Peoples Elephant. In spite of the loss, the players were very happy that the club failed to add the Federation Cup to its trophy cabinet. One of the players even told our correspondent that it has been a tough season for them and yet they were yet to get their money. “Abeg we don try. Haba make we go rest after all the club is owing us plenty money,” the player said.

Wikki Tourists
From the outside, it does look as though all is well at the club. Just like Nasarawa United, the Bauchi-based club is yet to pay its players and officials their signing-on fees for the immediate past campaign in the Premier League. An insider opened up that the players are already distraught over the non-payment of their fees and some are considering their future at the club. However, the Bauchi State government, it was learnt, is planning to make money available for the payment of the fees to the players and officials. But no date has been given for the exercise.

Sharks FC
Immediately after finishing the job of dispatching Lobi Stars in the semi-final via penalties in the semis of the Federation Cup, players and some of the officials of the club went into jubilation knowing that they have booked a ticket to one of the continental club competitions next year against all odds. Striker Victor Ezeji could not hide his excitement at the chance of playing in a continental competition again when he hugged head coach, Kadiri Ikhana. But the former Enyimba handler was as usual his composed self and told his players that the job was far from being done, as winning the Federation Cup remains uppermost in his mind.