Nasarawa United players are allegedly set to clash with the Nasarawa State Government over the delay in allocation the plots of land promised them by Governor Tanko Al-Makura after they emerged as Federation Cup runners-up last year.
At a ceremony in Lafia on November 9, Al-Makura rewarded the players and their officials with plots of land and N10m cash after the Solid Miners lost 5-4 on penalties in the final of the 2016 Federation Cup to their Premier League rivals IfeanyiUbah in the final of the Federation Cup in Lagos.
Although they have been given their Certificates of Occupancy, the players have yet to be allocated their plots of land nearly two months after the governor made the announcement.
Sources close to the Lafia club told our correspondent that the players, including those who have left for other clubs, are unhappy with the development as they fear the state government won’t fulfil its promise.
It was learnt that the management of the club had been assuring the players that the governor won’t disappoint them, urging them to focus on their 2016/2017 league opening game against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi on Sunday.
Some of the players, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, alleged that the state government only gave them their Certificates of Occupancy without taken them to see the land.
“We were only given Certificates of Occupancy and we yet to get our plots of land. The season will soon commence and we have not been able to access the land given to us by the state government,” a member of the team said.
However, the chairman of the club Isaac Danladi on Wednesday debunked the claims made by some players, saying the state government would give the players their land soon.
Danladi said, “I am assuring you that the players will be given the land promised them by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
“In fact, the state government has already given the players their land and I’m also part of the gift.
“Forget those players who are complaining over the land, they expect that the state government will make such a pronouncement and the land just given to us.”
He added, “There are processes of acquiring land and those processes have to be completed before the players can have access to the land given to them by the state government.
“As far as I am concerned no player has ever complained to us, regarding the land given to them by the state government and if any player is complaining, let such a player come before the management of the team.
“What about the over 15 players who were part of the pledged and have left the team, what will they say about it?”
He, however, said the players were focused and ready for the league kickoff.
credit: punchng