GOV. SYLVA PROBES BAYELSA UTD, QUEENS' ACCOUNTS
Bayelsa State Governor, Timpre Sylva, has initiated steps to unravel the mystery behind the accumulated debts incurred by the state owned football clubs, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens.
The governor is worried that despite heavy investments in the two clubs in the last three years of his administration, the players could find their way to his office at Creek Heaven to lodge their protest.
Investigations by Daily Sunsport reveal that the governor, who was dressed to attend the AMAA Award Ceremony in Yenagoa last weekend, stumbled into a waiting crowd outside his residence and inquired what their mission was. He was informed by his security details that the crowd were players of Bayelsa United, who had kept vigil at the gate for some hours insisting on seeing him.
He invited them in and asked what their mission was, the players told him they had made several attempts to see him in connection with the money owed them since last year by the management of the club.
They told him that their sign on fees, match bonuses and the money he promised them during their CAF Confederation Cup campaign were yet to be paid them. The governor asked them if they had the tabulated figures and its breakdown with them, but the players told him that they only have the figures owed each player.
He asked them to go home tabulate the figures against the name of all the players, and bring the documents to him on Sunday, but the players informed him that they would travel Sunday morning to honour a league game against Gateway in Abeokuta.
He now mandated them to honour the match and come back as they came on Tuesday (today) so that he can have a document to work with when he invites the state accountant general, the commissioner of sports and the management board of the club.
The Governor according to an eye witness was disappointed that the players who are also bread winners for their families are allowed to turn beggars.
Similarly Bayelsa Queens players were also asked to submit the debts owed them, which they had done.
It is believed that the low morale within the clubs would be lifted as soon as the Governor clears the backlog of debts owed these players.