Lobi players kick against pay cut amid poor run

There seems to be a divided house among players of bottom-rocked Nigeria Premier Football League side, Lobi Stars, amid the decision of the club management to slash their pay due to their poor run of form in the 2024/25 season, The NewsNGR reports.

The Benue State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange last week announced the intention of the management to impose a pay cut on the players who are not measuring up to standards.

Perhaps perturbed by the club’s battle against relegation, Ikyange read the riot act during the unveiling of Tony Bulus as the team’s new head coach – their fourth handler this season.

In a statement by the club’s media department, Ikyange reminded the players that beyond football, their livelihoods were at stake saying that “only those who deliver on the pitch will get paid going forward.”

“They can’t try it because I have a contract,” one of the players, who spoke anonymously, told The NewsNGR.

“We are just waiting for this month’s salary, if anything funny happens, then we will fight against it.”

The club’s media director, Emmanuel Ujah, had fuelled the discussion while fielding questions on News Central TV last Friday when he insinuated that some of the players are paid as much as N600,000 but haven’t played any match this season.

“We cannot continue like that. That is why we decided on that pay cut. If you are taking N600,000 you should work for it,” Ujah said.

Another player however alleged that fielding players for matches has been greatly influenced by agents and managers who protect the interest of the players by paying the handlers.

“You signed a player, you don’t give him the chance to play and you want to cut his money. And we put in the effort even in training. I was signed during the time of Dominic Iorfa. But when they sacked them, some politics started and different people began to show interest in players because of money,” the player told our correspondent.

Another player however played down the management’s intentions.

“There is nothing like that. Forget social media and for us as a team, ours is to continue doing our best and believing that we come out from where we are not supposed to be,” he said.

Lobi Stars are now winless in 12 matches and sit bottom of the table with 23 points after 29 matches. They lost their first game under new manager Bulus on Sunday (1-0 at Bayelsa United).