Niger Tornadoes FC to pay 2011/2012 sign-on fees

Minna – The Chairman, Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, Alhaji Abdul Paiko, has assured players of the club that their 2011/2012 sign-on fees would be paid before their home match on July 11.

A statement by Mr Suleiman Isa, the club’s Media Officer, quotes Paiko as saying “I have assured them that before our next home match the players sign on fees would be paid’’.

The statement issued on Saturday in Minna said the chairman expressed disappointment at the criticism of his administration by some stakeholders.

“I am just two months and one week old as the chairman of the club and people expect me to do magic by paying off money owed players.

“Government does not operate in that way; everything in governance has to follow due process so that every stakeholder would at the end of the day be satisfied with the agreement by both parties.

“I have asked the agents to come around during the presentation of cheques to the players because this time around we are going to make everything open before the Nigerian football family,’’ Paiko said.

The statement also said that the club’s chairman dismissed insinuations that he may resign if the players’ sign on fees are not paid before the end of the season.

“Niger Tornadoes Football Club is my team and I will live and die with the club.

“This is the only club that has been able to hold its head in the Nigerian Premier League for the last eleven years, standing out even in the face of challenges before the club,’’ Paiko said.

He said that Gov. Babangida Aliyu has continually commended the performance of the players and promised to pay their entitlement for the season to ensure that the club was not relegated. (NAN)