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Tag Nasarawa United FC

  • Feb, Thu, 2020
Sport

Deputy governor assures Nasarawa United of govt support, commitment to fight against relegation

Support
By Olukayode Babalola
Lafia, Feb. 20, 2020 (NAN) Emmanuel Akabe, the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, on Thursday in Lafia assured Nasarawa United Football Club’s players and officials of government support and commitment in the fight against relegation.

Akabe, while addressing the players and officials after their training session, said the state government was ready to ensure the club was not relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

“In spite of your current form, the Gov. Abdullahi Sule administration is solidly behind you and it is ready to provide whatever support is needed to motivate you to play to expectations.

“I can say that the government is solidly behind you and we know that we have not given you the attention that you deserve all this while.

“But, right now, your files are on top of the table and we are looking at it so that whatever it is with your welfare and other incentives that you deserve, within the next few weeks, the government will take appropriate actions and you will be better for it.

“All we are interested in is your welfare and to see to it that Nasarawa United, hopefully, next year, qualify to play continental football. And, whatever it will take for us to do that, the government of A.A. Sule is willing to do that,” he said.

The deputy governor also called on the officials to be dedicated to their professional duties and assured them that government would not interfere in how they run the team.

“We now have a new management team and we expect this new management led by Isaac Danladi to carry us to the next level and I also want to assure you that the government of Abdullahi Sule will not interfere in the day-to-day running of the club,” he said.

Akabe explained that it was because the state government decided to operate an “open door policy’’ that it approved the club management’s recommendation on its former head coach, Bala Nikyu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club has re-employed Nikyu who left the team abruptly.

“We are open to all kinds of advice and suggestions and we need your total cooperation.

“Just yesterday (Wednesday), we discussed to see if we can increase the number of members of the club’s coaching crew, which was part of why we requested that Nikyu returns to the club,” the deputy governor added.

While responding, Danladi who is the club’s chairman, thanked the deputy governor for the visit and assured him that both management and players would utilise the message from the state government.

“We appreciate you for this important visit and appreciate you for bringing us on board and only God will continue to guide and protect you. We are not going to disappoint the state governor or the state.

“This is no time for talking, but time for action. We are in a precarious situation now, and we must forge ahead to bring the team out of the bad situation we are in. We must make the best of the bad situation.”(NAN)
OB/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

We will surmount our challenges in NPFL, Nasarawa United FC Chairman assures

Challenges
By Sunday John
Lafia, Dec. 12, 2019 (NAN) Abdullahi Osanga, Chairman of Nasarawa United Football Club, says the club management is doing everything possible to overcome the club’s present challenges in the ongoing 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Osanga gave the assurance on Thursday in Lafia during a session with members of the Nasarawa State Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lafia-based club are currently bottom of the 2019/2020 NPFL log with two points from two draws and five losses in seven matches.

“The club is facing a difficult moment, but plans have been concluded to sign on new players from within and outside the country to strengthen the team for a better performance,’’ the club chairman said.

He disclosed that Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has given approval for the signing on of 10 new players to reposition the club for better performance in subsequent matches.

Osanga pointed out that the club management was ever willing to work with sports writers to publicise the activities and ongoing reforms in the club.

“Journalists are important partners in the society and cannot be ignored, hence the readiness of the management to partner with them.’’

He promised to consider the proposal of taking members of Nasarawa State SWAN along with the team to cover their away matches in order to promote the partnership.

Earlier, Isa Mohammed, the State SWAN Chairman, had said the courtesy visit to Osanga was to enhance a smooth relationship with the club management and seek a strong partnership.

“Therefore, I promise that sports writers in the state will continue to cover the club’s activities in line with the ethics of the journalism profession,’’ he said.(NAN)
SDJ/IKU/OLAL
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(Edited by Tayo Ikujuni and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Court orders Nasarawa State Govt. to deposit N182.5m award in interest-yielding account before appealing judgment

Order
By Thompson Yamput
Jos, Oct. 30, 2018 (NAN) The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Jos on Tuesday ordered the Nasarawa State Government and Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia to deposit N182.5 million in an interest-yielding account.

Justice Kenneth Amadi ordered both parties to deposit the amount in an interest-yielding account before they could file an appeal against its judgment.

The amount, N182,544,000, is the total sum the management of the state government-owned club is owing five former coaches and 37 players, being their unpaid salaries and sign-on fees.

The court, which heard the suit of the claimants, delivered judgment on April 16 and ordered the government to pay on or before April 30, 2018.

However, when the state government sought leave of court for a stay of execution of the April 16 judgment, Justice Amadi ordered it to deposit the amount in an account.

“Before a stay on the matter could be heard, the money (N182.5m) must first be lodged in an interest-yielding account.

“You (the Nasarawa State Government) must bring the money here. When you go and lose at the appellate court, the awardees will take the money. But, if you win, we shall give it back to you,’’ the judge stated.

Amadi then gave the state government up till Nov. 19 to bring or present the cheque of the said money to the court before its motion could be heard.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Messrs Paul Hammache and A.G.Yirvoms, counsel to the coaches and players respectively, had challenged the Nasarawa state government’s application.

The state government had applied to move a motion for a stay of judgment as it intends to appeal.

“By the rules of this court, the Judgement Debtor/Applicant can’t move any motion or be heard until and unless the amount awarded is lodged in an interest-yielding account of the court.

“That is the rule and they must do that first, before the court can hear them as it relates to the judgment and award to the coaches and players,’’ Yirvoms argued.

The judge, who agreed with Yirvoms, however adjourned the case to Nov. 19.

This was for the applicant to lodge in the account the money and hear the motion filed by the state government for stay of execution of the judgment before its appeal.

NAN reports that the coaches and players had separately sued the state government and the club over their failure to pay their entitlements amounting to N182.5 million since 2015.

The coaches are Evans Ogenyi, Sylvester Ekoja, Michael Jatau, Bala Nikyu and El-Shammah Inusa.

The coaches, who are now the judgment creditors/respondents along with the players, had differently served as Technical Adviser, assistant coach, chief coach, goalkeeper trainer and chief trainer before being laid off.

They were laid off in 2015, alongside the 37 players.

The two groups had approached the court through their counsel.

In their separate prayers, they urged the court to compel the club and the state government to pay them the entitlements.

This was awarded to them by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status/Arbitration Committee on Oct. 10, 2015.

The club and the government, through their counsel, the state’s Solicitor-General, had objected to the applications and asked the court to strike the suit out.

He had argued that the plaintiffs’ application lacked merit, saying the court also lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

But Justice Amadi, in his judgment, upheld NFF arbitration panel’s earlier submission in the case.

Amadi held that NFF’s judgment was in order and further argued that the court had jurisdiction to adjudicate on the cases by virtue of Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The issues here border on employment and unpaid salaries and other entitlements.

“By the rules of this court and by Section 254 of the Constitution, it has the jurisdiction to adjudicate and to enforce any arbitrary award connected and arising from such disputes relating to non-payment of salaries, which is its exclusive right.

“The applications filed by the state government and Nasarawa United FC have therefore failed, and I hereby adopt the NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee’s Award as the judgment of this court.

“I hereby order the respondents (Nasarawa state government and Nassarawa United FC) to pay all the awardees their entitlements in fulfillment of the award on or before April 30, 2018.

“In the light of this, the applicants have been granted leave to enforce this judgment from this date,’’ the judge held.(NAN)
TYC/AOS/OLAL
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

12 players sue Nasarawa state govt. over N51.65m unpaid salaries, sign-on-fees

NAN-S-24
Salaries
By Thompson Charlie Yamput
Jos, Feb. 8, 2018 (NAN) Twelve players of Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia have sued the Nasarawa State Government and the club’s management over unpaid salaries, match bonuses and sign-on fees totaling N51.65 million.

Joined in the suit before Justice Kenneth Amadi at the Jos Section of the National Industrial Court (NIC) is the Nasarawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

The aggrieved players, who were laid off by the club in 2015, include Okopi Sunday, Vincent Christopher and Jediael Dachor.

The rest are Shehu Dauda, Marcus Zung, Michael Ibi, Abba Abdullahi, Peter Gregory, Bidemi Abdulwahab, Samaila Mohammed, Abubakar Isah and Danlami Mohammed.

The players claimed they were variously engaged by the defendants but that, after their meritorious service, the defendants failed to pay them as agreed upon.

When the matter was mentioned in court on Thursday, A,G. Yirvoms, the players’ counsel in a motion claimed the club sacked them and refused to pay their entitlements totaling N51.65 million.

“My Lord, it in this light that my clients approached and sought for justice before the NFF Players’ Statutes/Arbitration Committee, which graciously granted an arbitral award in their (players’) favour.

“Before you Sir, we have a application in a motion seeking to enforce the arbitrary award given to the applicants in accordance with the rule of this court as in Section 17 sub-section 3(1)(2)(3)(4) Rules 2017.’’

Responding, the defendants’ counsel, Ishaku Usman, who is also the state’s Solicitor-General, said the state government and Nasarawa United FC had already challenged the arbitrary award at the NFF.

“My Lord, because of the distance, coming all the way from Lafia, we have not been able to file anything before your Lordship in respect to this case. But we hope to do that immediately after this proceeding.

“We will need time to file our counter-affidavit to the application brought before this honourable court by the applicants and so apply for an adjournment to enable us do that,’’ Usman said.

After listening to both sides, Justice Amadi adjourned the case to Feb. 22 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this case brought the number of cases brought by coaches and players of Nasarawa United FC to four.

All of them are yet to be decided by the National Industrial Court however.(NAN)
TYC/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

Nassarawa United decry supporters’ conduct after goalless draw with Plateau United

NAN-S-22
Misbehaviour
By Sunday John
Lafia, Feb. 10, 2017 (NAN) Isaac Danladi, Chairman of Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia, on Friday condemned the misconduct of some of the team’s supporters during and after Sunday’s game with Plateau United FC.

Danladi, while addressing newsmen in Lafia, said the supporters’ action was unpatriotic.

“On behalf of the management of Nasarawa United FC, I can say that the behaviour is worrisome and we condemn it in totality.

“We have been able to talk to them to realise that in as much as they are passionate about wanting us to win all our matches, they should also know that football has rules and regulations” he added.

Danladi explained that the action could lead to the club being sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC), pointing out that this could also affect the team players’ performances.
He said the club management, as overseers of the team’s supporters, would curb the supporters’ excesses to avoid sanctions.

Speaking also at the occasion, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Chairman of the team’s Supporters Club, claimed that the misconduct was not by their registered members.

He however promised that such occurence would be prevented in future.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some supporters of Nasarawa United FC had on Sunday manhandled some players and officials of Plateau United of Jos.

The match, a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 6 fixture, had ended goalless.(NAN)
SDJ/DS/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)