FED CUP24: NASARAWA UNITED INTENSIFY TRAINING AHEAD SOKOTO CLASH; DISPEL STRIKE ACTION RUMOURS.
By Eche Amos
After picking one of the 2023/24 Nigeria National League Super Eight Play-off tickets, the Solid Miners have turned focus to the 2024 President’s Federation Cup.
The team had a rigorous training exercise on Wednesday morning at the Lafia City Stadium preparatory for the Round of 32 clash against fellow NNL24 Super Eight counterparts, Sokoto United, at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, on Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024, by 4pm.
Captain, King Osanga(MON), told the Club’s Media that the team is battle-ready to face any opposition in the oldest single knockout inter-club competition in Nigeria.
“To the glory of God, we have been able to cross one hurdle enroute to the elite domestic football league in Nigeria by picking the Super Eight Play-off ticket, and waiting for the second and last phase of the competition to kick-start.
“A week-and-a -half ago, we kick-started the 2024 President Federation Cup competition where we defeated FC Bako by a lone goal in the round of 64 in Kaduna.
“Now, we are shifting our attention to the Round of 32 tie versus Sokoto United in a few weeks to come.
“As you can see, we are training ahead of the match in Kano, and we hope to make progress to the next phase of the competition.
“We will approach the game with all our arsenal because every game is important, regardless of the opponents.”
The former Nigerian junior international, however, dispelled a few rumours that have been spreading recently across the cyberspace that the team’s players embarked on a strike action demanding for their entitlements.
“This is not only laughable but childish. What is the strike action for? We have never been owed any salary because the Government has been consistent.
“I think some people are blowing what happened yesterday out of proportion. They should be able to do their background findings well before going to publish whatever they want.
“We were supposed to train in the morning on Tuesday(yesterday), but there was another NLO game slated for the same period, so the players seeing the clash in the use of the stadium decided to converge where we all began to discuss our outstanding match bonuses in the league and why it is time for us to get them to further boost our morale going into the FA Competition.
“From information available to us, the Government has given the approval for the match bonuses and we are waiting for the translation into physical cash.
“Such in-house demand should not be mistaken for a strike action. Did anyone see us displaying placards and making any public demands? Of course, no!
“So, we are not aware of any strike action in the team.
“Such reports are a distraction to us because we have very crucial games ahead of us, and all we are determined to do is how to surmount those challenges ahead of us.
“We have our channel(s) of communication and how we can reach out to those who matter as regards anything entitled to us.”
Recall that some unverified reports had emerged in some online platforms on Tuesday, insinuating that players and officials of Nasarawa United had gone on strike over unpaid salaries and entitlements.
Nasarawa United, El-Kanemi Warriors, FC, Sokoto United and Sporting Supreme are grouped in the Northern Conference in the Super Eight Play-offs slated to take place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, from 23rd – 30th May, 2024, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League Season from the Conference.
