Players of Nigeria National League side ABS FC owned by the Senate President of Nigeria Bukola Saraki have embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands over unpaid salaries, Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively report.
Last weekend players of the team refused to travel for a league game against Aklosendi of Nasarawa State in Lafia due to the strike and they were subsequently walked over by their opponents.
Some players of the team told Owngoalnigeria.com that they have not been paid in any form since last year August, which is further compounded by the fact that they travel for games in rather uncomfortable circumstances.
Most times they arrive match venues on the day of their game and due to lack of funds for accommodation they are forced to return back to their base no matter how late immediately after the game.
The players said they now rely on fans and friends to feed with some even resorting to selling their kits to raise money for feeding and other upkeeps including medical issues as the team doesn’t have a medical team attached to them.
When contacted by Owngoalnigeria.com, some members of the management team said the players didn’t honour their last game due to logistics and not because they are on strike. A claim strongly refuted by players of the team.
Two seasons ago, they were relegated from the Nigeria Profesional Football League and players of the team were forced to hand over all kits in their possession including socks used for games at the end of the season.
Ade Emmanuel
