Sports
HEAD Coach of Adamawa United Football Club, Festus Murealewe, says his team’s poor performance in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is due to inadequate funding.
Murealewe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna that financial resources had been a major challenge for them, thereby making the team perform below expectations.
NAN reports that the team lost 0-1 to Jigawa Golden Stars on Sunday in Kaduna in their 2020/2021 NPFL Match Day 9 fixture.
The result meant they stay glued to the bottom of the log with two points from nine matches.
The coach disclosed that the club was facing financial challenges which even delayed their trip to Kaduna for the match against Jigawa Stars.
“We are in a financial mess and it wasn’t our making to come late for our match .
“We heard that people were already complaining and saying it was going to be a walk-over against us.
”But we had issues with our vehicle’s brake on our way to Kaduna for the match.”
He added that the club had been grappling with problems since their midweek match in Uyo, where money was late in getting to them.
“We wanted to be in Kaduna after our midweek match in Uyo, so that the players could rest and train well for the weekend match. But it wasn’t possible because of delayed finance.
“However, we came to Kaduna through the benevolence of a concerned friend who asked us to come over, that he would take care of our accommodation and feeding,” Murealewe said.
He said the financial challenge they had led to one of the players fainting after the match, due to lack of proper care.
“One of our players fainted after the match because he had not eaten and was fired.”
The coach disclosed that the players were given only N5,000 allowance since last week Sunday.
“This is their career and source of livelihood. Some of them have families to take care of and no money is being given to them.
“But these players, in spite of the hunger, are still playing to protect the image of the state,” he said.
Murealewe then appealed to the state government to release the needed funds to take care of the players and their needs.
He pointed out that funding was very important to any team’s performance, especially for those playing in the NPFL.
“l am calling on our state governor to assist us by funding the club.
“I know he watches the NPFL matches, but he knows we are trying. In spite of coming late, the match ended 0-1 against us after a goalless first half.
“But we will go back and work on our mistakes and ensure we start winning matches, so as to be in a comfortable position on the league table.”
NAN
– Feb. 8, 2021 @ 18:17 GMT
Tags: Coach blames Adamawa United FC’s dismal performance on inadequate funding
