IDOKO DENIES SUNSHINE STRIKE REPORT

Sunshine Stars FC management has denied report the Akure club players embarked on strike in protest against the non-payment of their entitlement before Saturday's CAF Confederation Cup with Motema Pembe of Congo in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. The Executive Director of the Ondo State Football Agency Mike Idoko said the owner of the Premier League outfit, Ondo State Government, had paid their signing-on fees and their allowances.

According to him, Governor Olusegun Mimiko on assumption of office, paid the players their accumulated signing-on fees for 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons.

He stressed that the players would have been paid their remaining entitlement last week but for the strike embarked on by the Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress over the new minimum wage.The former General Manager of Warri Wolves stated that the victory over Motema Pembe had demonstrated the players' commitment to the club.

Idoko said, 'I want to categorically deny the report that players of Sunshine Stars went on strike before the game against Motema Pembe. The same players they said went on strike were able to distinguish themselves in the CAF Confederation Cup match on Saturday. Did they look like players who didn't train for a week?'