The winner of the Simplified Football tournament involving the twenty three Local Government Area of Rivers State,Okirika United Football club has disclosed that the Football Association(FA) under Rivers Ministry of Sports only snapped them(Okirika United FC) with cheque of seven million naira but they have not received any money.
In an interview with Journalists, Assistant Coach.of Okrika United Football Club, Charles Medford said
“It was organized by the FA under the Rivers State Ministry of Sports and is a big competition.It is tagged Simplified cup,it means that the Governor of the state our dear Governor,Sir Siminalayi Fubara is using the means to improve Sports and put together Youth from various LGA to make life meaningful and also scout for players to go to higher clubs and all that.It is a thing of joy for every LGA to participate.
“Okirika LGA came out victorious against our brothers,friends,our family the Eleme LGA. We won them by 3-1.
After the finals,it was so surprising that the acting state Chairman of FA presented a cheque of 7 million naira to us,them 5 million naira to Eleme who were the runners up and then 3 million naira to Andoni LGA that came third.
“Till now, we have not seen anything,they only use us to snap a picture,that they will be giving us money and all that.
“Is over two weeks now.We played the finals on the 15th of November,2024 .Till today we have not seen anything.No calls from anywhere,we are trying to know what is happening through the FA, nothing is happening,no information at all.
“And then you know players could also go deviant.When atheletes after performance,there is no reward for their hardwork.And most of these players have being in the camp for over three months and some of them are not from our LGA,some are from our LGA.
“It is a football tournament, it gives room for talents across the country to come and participate.
“We are begging the Governor to come to the aid of the Rivers Youth who have demonstrated sportsmanship through his Governance to call the FA and Ministry of Sports to redeem this trophy of Seven,Five and Three million naira respectively by those who worked so hard to win it.
“And players are on our neck believing that we have collected the money from the Government and that we dont want to be open to them and we are being accused.And then they can also attack us.
“We also have fans who also came in their mass to support us,they are also expecting something.Even we as coaches at some point in time,it was personal efforts and some persons from the LGA came up and assisted us”.
revelationagents.com sent a whatzpp message to Sammy Wejinya, the media officer to the Rivers State Commissioner of Sports,Christopher Green.
Our correspondent followed up with a call and Mr Wejinya confirmed receiving the message on enquiry on the allegation made by the Assistant Coach of the Okirika United FC but was yet to respond as at time of filing the report.
Our correspondent also sent a message to the Secretary of Rivers FA,Omiete Tamuno which from network response was delivered to him.Our correspondent followed up with a call and Mr Tamuno told our correspondent to call him back.
Mr Tamuno was yet to response to our enquiry as at press time.