Salary Arrears Payment: Dolphins, Sharks Hail Wike

Dolphins’ striker, Ifeanyi Egwim in flight during a recent game at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt

The managements of Dol
phins FC and Sharks FC at the weekend commended Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for paying the eight months salary arrears owed the clubs by the past administration.
Interim Head of Sharks FC Technical Crew, Mr. Daboere Dokubo told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the governor had kept to his promise by paying salary backlogs.
Dokubo, who spoke through the clubs Media Officer, Mr Peter Abaje, said they were optimistic of turning around their fortunes in the league.
“The reason is, during the week, the players and officials smiled to the bank as the governor of the state paid eight months backlog of salaries owed the team.
“So much has been given to the players by the governor and we commend him for fulfilling his electioneering campaign promise to take sports to the next level,” he said.
Dokubo said the club has focused on winning their matches because there were no more excuses to give.
“Players used to say they had not been paid salaries, we are hungry and cannot think well in the field of play but all that is over”, he said.
Dolphin’s manager, Mr Stanley Eguma, confirmed that his club had also been paid; and players now have renewed optimism in the season.
Eguma thanked the governor for matching his words with action by clearing all salaries owed the officials and players.
“There are issues that have affected us, some of our players are absent without leave and others are affected by injuries in their match against Ifeanyi Uba FC”, he said.
Eguma said most of the affected players were midfielders, adding that it was a big blow to the team.
He said with the spirit in the boys,  the team would no longer come home empty handed but would begin to garner valuable points.
“In our 1-1 draw against Giwa FC, my players did not pick into game right in time as they were dragging their feet in the first-half.
“They could not find their rhythm in the first-half but took control of the game in the second-half after studying it”, he said.
Eguma said the team would work on their mistakes and come out strong against subsequent opponents.