The management of Plateau United did not carry through their widely condemned threat to cut the salaries of players and members of the technical staff in half for the month of February busybuddiesng.com can confirm.
The club’s general manger Pius Henwan had read the riot act to players and members of the back room staff on the back of an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to lowly Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) newcomers Kada City on Match Day 10.
Henwan had described the defeat – the first suffered at home by the 2017 NPFL champions in three years – as “unacceptable to the government and people of Plateau State” and declared that players and officials of the club would be placed on half salaries “until the situation improves”.
Henwan it appears, has now backed down from the hugely unpopular disciplinary measure amid fears it will backfire after players made their abundant displeasure known to the management.
Several senior players told busybuddiesng.com that their salary for February was paid in full with one saying in pidgin English “dem no fit try am because we no go even gree” (the club cannot attempt to deduct our salaries because wouldn’t even agree to it).
The attempt by Plateau United to jolt players and members of the backroom staff have come about because of the anaemic displays in a less than ideal first half of the 2018/2019 season in spite of the huge outlay on eight new players and Aiteo Cup winning manager Abdu Maikaba who joined from Akwa United.
Their season hasn’t really recovered from the disastrous aftermath of a goalless draw against FC Ifeanyiubah on the opening day where fans attacked centre referee Sam Agba which led to the team being banished from the New Jos Stadium for three matches.
With just one win in their last seven games United are presently marooned in the relegation places on 10thposition in the 12 team Group B log – a far cry from preseason expectations for the 2017 champions.
They travel to Umuahia for their next fixture versus Abia Warriors when the league resumes for the second stanza on Sunday, March 17 and the club will be hoping for an upturn in form and for the players to earn their pay.
