By Sedara Philip
Ahead of the conclusion of the first stanza of the Nigeria National League, a player of Hensard FC of Bayelsa lamented nonpayment of salaries, saying he finds it difficult to feed.
Speaking in the video which went viral, the player, whose name is unknown as at the time of writing this report, said despite the hardship he has been dedicated to training to avoid criticism from the management, fans, and the media.
Revealing his admiration for football, the player said he cannot return home because he is financially handicapped as the club has refused to pay the players their entitlement.
“I have been struggling for five days, aside from that one, I have been managing myself because I don’t have anyone to explain to. I don’t explain to anybody, I have been forcing myself to play. I have been enduring and I don’t miss training because I don’t want criticism because I want to play football,” he explained.
“I have a love for football, which was why I left my home. I have not paid my house rent, and I can’t go home because I don’t have anything,” he said.
Comparing his time in Nigeria to that in Togo, the player said he has a better standard of living in Togo compared to what he is experiencing in Nigeria.
“My friend plays football and pockets 50,000 naira monthly and I can’t call him because they will tell me I am playing in the NNL,” he explained.
“Even when I was in Togo my life was not like this. I thought things will improve, that is why I decided to play in Nigeria but now things are worse. I beg for food, why?, he questioned.
Hensard FC are fifth in six-team Group B1 of the Nigeria National League (NNL) with four points from five games. They have won one, draw one and lost three of their five games
Credit:tagetsoccer
