The unending saga of sign-on-fees of the two Nigeria premiership clubs, sponsored by the Rivers State government, Dolphins and Sharks is again repeating itself as players of both clubsides have threatened to down tool except the Rivers State government their sponsor pay up to date, their sign-on-fees.
It would be recalled that the same “Wahala” bedeviled the Rivers State government. Sponsored two Nigeria premiership campaigners. This same saga caused Dolphins her CAF continental trophy when it mattered most to the state sport fans.
No doubt Sharks and Dolphins football clubs are good sides and could make Rivers State soccer fan proud on a good day, if all is working well according to plans.
Both coaches are of the best class as compared to other coaches in the domestic league, but however, the coaches put in their effort to move their teams into a promising height the teams sponsor is not always handy with sign on-fees, match bonus, allowances and salaries. This had in many occasions turn-down the performance level of the players. Last season all registered players, played without their sign-on-fees.
This could be seen and described as modern day slavery in the premises of soccer. Players of Sharks and Dolphins had never rested about the issue of sign-on-fees. And intermittently went on strike in demand of their sign-on-fees.
The Nigeria professional league starts 9th March, 2013, new players have been recruited to play the 2012/2013 Nigeria professional premier league, but so sad enough last football season players that prosecute the league in Sharks and Dolphins colours are still unpaid. What a shameful plight the players found themselves.
A Senegalese player Abdou Sagna who was signed from Senegal to play the last football season in full is crying to receive his sign-on-fees.
Though, the league’s take-off is questionable, Sharks and Dolphins have started with their own self destructive problem, while awaiting for the league to commence. ###
