Captain of Akwa United, Otobong Effiong, and the club's prolific goalscorer, Mfon Udoh, has been sacked by the management of the club following the protest staged in Algeria when the players objected they would not play the match unless they are paid estacode for the trip.
It was reported that during the CAF Champions League qualifier when the club traveled to Algeria for their tie against CR Belouizdad, the club went with more than 20 people who have no business in the team.
The likes of National assembly members, party partisans, loyalists, and host of others at the expense of the gladiators and principal actors, which were in this case the players of Akwa United.
According to a player of the club who pleaded anonymity, The Promise Keepers were never ready to play on the continent, giving the excuse that there was no money.
“Akwa United was never ready to play in continental with no money syndrome”
“As I speak, they are still owing us 19 match bonuses of last season.” The anonymous player told ckdmedia.ng
“The truth must be told, over 18 players protested for estacode for the trip and bonuses but two players became scapegoats. It's a pity.”
“The team keep saying no money, I don't blame Elder Paul Bassey, sometimes he uses his personal fund to keep us going but we are pushed to the wall.”
“After our reaction in Algeria, they started transferring 300k to our account on the day of the match, we didn't even train at all. We would have gotten the result needed in Algeria but our minds were divided.”
“We all have families. Most of us are breadwinners and some people are collecting our money from the government, but the money doesn’t get to us.”
The source further expressed his displeasure towards the fact that the Akwa United state government seems unready to host the NPFL Champions.
“As I speak, we don't even know when they will host us for the first time in the history of the club that we won the NPFL trophy. No date is fixed to host and celebrate the team for the massive accomplishment.”
“Only GOD can help the team this season. We did all we could last season, thinking that we will get houses or good cars each, for our (players) efforts put in to win the league but what do we get? They want to start this season with accumulated debt again,” the anonymous player concluded.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
