Rivers State government has assured players of Sharks FC, Port Harcourt that monies owed them would be paid in a forthnight. This followed a protest march by players of the club to the Government House yesterday over their unpaid sign-on fees and bonuses of last season.
The State’s deputy governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru who addressed the players at the Government House, said he would relate everything to the governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi , and further pay all the monies owed them.
“As I am speaking to you the governor is not in the state, but immediately he comes in, I will brief him and we will pay you all the monies we owe you. But I will advise you to go back to your camp and concentrate, to achieve good results” Ikuru said.
This is the second time such peaceful demonstration would take  place.  The first was by Dolphins FC,  last two months over the same reason.
Both Sharks and Dolphins fcs are being sponsored by the state government and players of both teams are owed sign on fees of last season and some match bonuses.
It is not new that players of these two teams have boycotted training sessions so many times, and been pleaded with and promised  payment.
In his reactions, the captain of Sharks fc, Odinga Odinga said players would  obey the Deputy governor, and give them a benefit of the doubt, adding that after the expiration of the two weeks, they  would still demand for their rights if nothing is done.
“The deputy governor has given us his words and we will take him by his words. Since he assured us, we will go back and face our remaining matches, because our target is to get one of the continental tickets” Odinga said.

Tonye Orabere