Players of the Nigeria Women’s Professional League side, Heartland Queens, protest over their unpaid seven month Salaries. The players and technical team blocked Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s convoy from entering the Government House in Owerri.

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The placard-carrying protesters stormed the main entrance to the government house chanting anti-government slogans.

The governor, who drove himself to the Government House, was forced to alight from his car to address the footballers clutching placards, which read, “We are the breadwinners of our families; We are suffering, Government of Imo State, pay us our seven months’ salaries; and Our dear governor, please listen to your children.

After listening to the complaints of the players, Okorocha, ‎who assured them that their demands would be met, assigned one of his aides, Edna Njoku, to discuss with the protesters and give him the feedback.

The captain of the Owerri side, Best Osuji, when contacted told galaxy tv correspondent Ajibade Awofes that they were not happy with the team manager, Charity Enwerem, she said the manager allegedly‎ refused to draw the state government’s attention to their plight and allowed it to linger.

Osuji ‎said, since they won the amateur league play-offs and qualified for the Nigerian the top flight, the state government has abandoned them.

They lament not have a camp, and neglected have in the stadium without any care.

She maintained that they go to matches late due to rickety state of their bus and play on empty stomachs, yet they want us to produce good results.”‎

 

Report by Miyen Akiri