Pelican Stars block entrance of governor's office for their 12-month salaries

Players of Nigerian Professional Women League side Pelican Stars have stormed the office of Cross-Rivers' state Governor Benedict Ayade to demand for their 12-month salaries.

This is not the first time that players of Pelican Stars will be seen in such demonstration as they also protested for the payment of their salaries in 2015 and 2017.

According to what was gathered, the players have not been paid for the past one year in which all their efforts to get their money have been abortive.

The Commissioner for Sports in Cross-Rivers Offa Oya is also said to have begged Pelican players to exercise patience claiming that their money would be paid.

But the players appeared to have been tired of promises and they decided to block the entrance of the Governor's office.

"We are starving. Come to our aid able Governor. For how long will this continue?,'' the players were seen shouting in front of the Governor's office in loud voices.

Pelican Stars regained promotion to the NWPL for the 2020 season following their relegation to the second tier in 2018.

They will campaign next term in the Professional Football League where they are expected to face the likes of Rivers United and Nasarawa Amazons.

Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how Nigerian Football Federation finally confirmed their readiness and how they will share the $2m (N773 million) relief funds they got from FIFA who are in charge of world football.

For the past few weeks, there have been serious talks about the money the Nigerian Football Federation got from FIFA with key stakeholders and pundits asking the present NFF board when they will share it.

World football governing body FIFA decided to help their country members with some money due to the financial problems the outbreak of the coronavirus caused to football.

Sporting activities in Nigeria have been suspended since March although there are plans for sports to resume this year.