There are rare cases whereby a team gets promoted from the country’s second tier league to shockingly win the top flight League. In Europe, precisely England, Leicester’s heroics in 2016 is one fairy tale that still reinstates in people’s minds or when conversations hold.
Back in Nigeria here, Plateau United won the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL 2017 title in an exceptional fashion.
There were so many ecstatic scenes from their title win, the excellent fashion they won it with, the beautiful football style they displayed enroute the title win.
How did they win this title?
They had just been promoted the season before this season(2017) they won the title, and it was a surprising one seeing a team recently promoted win the title.
Infact it was their first title win in their history, and Kennedy Boboye, an ex player for Sharks of Port Harcourt was in charge as the manager who made that history.
Aftermath of the title win
After the win, the Governor of the state, Plateau state, His excellency Simon Lalong promised the players a sum of 1.5 million naira and a plot of land each as a sign of appreciation on the efforts which brought the state such glory.
On promises, it’s usually a thing, seeing promises made to clubs, national teams or even folks in other sports outside football when they reach a great feat.
The recent NPFL Champions, Rivers Utd is a testament to that, getting a 12 thousand dollar promise from their Governor, Nyesom Wike.
But in many cases, these promises come so late or even do not come at all.
Chioma Ajunwa’s outcry last year saw her receive the promise made to her over 25 years ago from the Lagos state government for her Olympics heroics.
Five years after winning the NPFL title, the Plateau Utd side that won the League are yet to get their promises made by the state government. Kennedy Boboye who won them that title in that period has gone on to make the same history of winning a club’s first title with Akwa Utd and moved to other clubs in this five year period.
But what has happened? Why are they yet to receive promises made to them??
Is it that the government just made an eye-service promise?? Is it an economic issue?? Has the money been disbursed and been withheld from reaching the right people??
So many questions begging for answers, but one thing I have an answer to is that the team really needs the promises made then to be fulfilled to them.
A member of the team then, Emmanuel Olowo speaking to Elegbetetv.com has come out to plead to Governor Lalong to have the promise made to them fulfilled.
Photo Credit: Zamorepp
Emmanuel Olowo, a defender with the side then, quit Professional Football in 2020. The injury sustained in the title winning season affected him and saw him retire from playing football in 2020.
Emmanuel who’s now the coach for Sunshine Stars academy, has asked that the Government sort this quickly.
Though he credited the support the team got from the Governor enroute their win, and also attested to the Governor’s staunch commitment to players wages.
But he expressed shock at why the promises made had not been made, knowing that in a few months, his tenure would be over and that would probably see that die down.
He maintained that since there was a promise made, it ought to have been redeemed, emphasizing that ‘a promise is a debt’.
” Sincerely speaking, for His Excellency Simon Lalong, in the year 2017, the support he showed to us was so much, I had played in top clubs before then and it’s rare seeing a Governor support a team like the way Governor Lalong did”
” At the reception held for us after the trophy win, he promised giving the players of Plateau United 1.5 million naira each and a plot of land and for some coaches, 2 million naira or so, but since then weeks have gone by, for some Governors there’d be bankers on ground to alert the players or cheques issued, but maybe for security reasons, that was avoided, and we’ve kept on waiting, five years on nothing has been done”
“In few months to come, Governor Lalong will not be on seat because his tenure would be over then, and I think it’s the right time we ask to know why the Governor hasn’t fulfilled his promises, and what has gone on”
” For Governor Lalong which I know, he doesn’t joke with players wages, so I wonder why he would want to taint his reputation just for mere promises, and a promise is a debt, so it has to be fulfilled “
“If it wouldn’t be fulfilled, he has to call us back and take back his words in another reception and let us know that those promises do not hold anymore, but for now, we would go all out without relenting.”
“If nothing is done between now and the 10th of August, a protest will be staged, and we would all walk down to the Governor’s office to stage a protest, but we hope it doesn’t get to that, and pray the Governor hear us out and tell us what has happened probably it’s with the management, but I don’t think the management will do such if the money for the players has been handed to them” Olowo said.
On promises, perhaps it would be nice and good if Government officials make promises that are realistic, or promises that can be fulfilled at that point looking at the financial position of the state, also ensuring there’s a process that tracks to see the individuals who deserve such, really get what was promised to them.
This definitely would cede or curb cases where individuals don’t get what’s promised to them.
