Friday, July 15, 2011

Sunshine move to end players' strike

The management of Nigeria Premier League (NPL) leaders, Sunshine Stars, has taken a step in ending the industrial action embarked upon by its players.

This is coming four days after the players' mutiny started over unpaid contract fees, a month's salary and a match bonus.

Naijaligue.blogspot.com can confirm that an executive board member of the club's management held talks with the aggrieved players at their Pebbles Suit camp in Ijebu-Ode on Thursday.

The official of Sunshine Stars, whose name could not be ascertained by any of the players who spoke to our correspondent is said to have told the club's playing personnel that the management will meet with them on Friday.

"One of the board members of the club management came to talk to us today (Thursday). He told us that the management will come and address us tomorrow (Friday)," one of the players disclosed to Naijaligue.blogspot.com.

It was also gathered that the club in a bid to placate the players decided to pay the outstanding bonus for one of the Orange Caf Confederation Cup games owed the players.

The club, it has also been learned, is ready to pay the outstanding salary of one month to the players before the close of work on Friday.

A midfielder with the club said: "We are surprised that they have paid us the match bonus of the Confederation Cup. And they have promised that by tomorrow we will get the one month salary they owe us.

"But this is unfair. So if we had not embarked on a strike they will decide to keep the money and not pay us anything after all the good work we have done for the club this season."

However, a meeting among the players earlier scheduled to hold on Wednesday at their hotel camp did not come up.

Some of the players behind the mutiny say that their ranks have been broken hence the cancellation of that meeting.

It is believed that Friday's meeting between the club management and its players will be centred on the outstanding contract fees.

But our source said the players have said they will make a decision of their own after Friday's meeting with the club.

Sunshine Stars are scheduled to play hosts to DR Congo's Motema Pembe this Saturday in a preliminary game of the 2011 Orange Caf Confederation Cup.

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