By Amaechi Agbo

Bestchoicesports.com.ng has exclusively gathered that the management of Nigeria Professional Football League side, Katsina United is owing their players 7 months salaries.

Our correspondent also gathered that the players are being old differently either as old or new members of the the team.

An impeccable source in the club told this paper that old players are being owed 7 months while new playes are battling with five months unpaid salaries.

A player who spoke to our correspondent but did not want his name mentioned for fear of victimization said that they received half salary in March but added that the club has been owing them since January this year.

He noted that the half salary they received in March was meant for January adding that the management of the club has continuously told them that they will be paid but nothing has come out of the promises.

“Yes, it is true (that they are owing us). We have a group that we chat and that was where we discussed the issue.

“We were paid our last salary after the suspension of the league and it was half salary they paid.

“They just said they will pay. That is what they have been saying but we have not heard anything from them.

“Before the March half salary, we have not been paid February and January salaries.
What happened is that they have been owing us for two months so they are trying to balance it.

“The one they paid in March, was for January. Before the March they have been owing us for two months.

“The one that they paid in March, it was January that they wrote in the alert. So we were not paid February and in March we were paid half salary for January,” he said.

On whether the they were paid November and December salaries, the player said “They paid us November and December salaries fully.”

Another player who spoke in confidence said that they are being owed five and a half months salaries but added that the issue “has been sorted out”

“Yes, before they are owing us but now they are going to pay. But since the killings in the state, each time the management go to the governor he will listen but the governor’s attention is on (how to tackle) the bandits.

But now, the government as well as the commissioner (of sports) have listened and everything is working now. Maybe today (Thursday) or tomorrow they will pay and next week they pay another,”

On how many months the club is owing them, the source said five months but was not so sure.

Secretary Promises to pay

Bestchoicesports.com.ng further gathered that the secretary of the club, Sani Tinau has promised the players that their outstanding salaries will be paid.

Our source told us that the payment will be effected today (Thursday) after some key players met with the secretary on Wednesday or at most Friday. He noted with “certainty” that the money will be paid adding that the problem of the delay has been from the government.

“But now everything is settled between the government and the management,” he said.

When asked to clarify on whether the players are being owed seven months, the source said “No, no. It is not seven months. Some members of the management are owed seven months but the players are owed five and a half months,” he concluded.

Efforts to speak with the chairman of Katsina United, Prince Badamasi Abdulsamad proved unsuccessful as he did not pick calls made to his phone at 3:08 and 3:09pm Thursday nor did he respond to our message requesting for his reaction the story.