Enyimba pay 50 percent of players' sign-on fees

Jan 17, 2013 3:03:00 PM

Quite ironic from previous seasons, the Peoples Elephant have taken up the welfare of their players seriously even before the start of the league season

The preparations of six-time Nigerian champions Enyimba ahead of the 2012/13 football season have been given a major boost by the Abia State Governor, Chief Dr. T. A. Orji who has splashed cash on the team for the payment of sign-on fees.

In a press release made available to Goal.com and signed by the club's media officer, Farriel Allaputa, the Chairman of twice African champions, Felix Anyansi-Agwu opined that the decision to pay 50 percent of the players' sign on fees even before the start of the league season showed Abia government's resolve to support the club for optimum results this season.

Anyansi-Agwu revealed that for the first time, fifty percent of sign-on fees for the team will be paid before the start of a season and expressed deep gratitude to the State Governor, Chief T. A. Orji for making such a remarkable achievement possible.

“This is evidence of the Governor’s trust in the team,” Anyansi-Agwu said. “This is proof that the Government of Abia State is solidly behind the team and a sign that things will be better than they ever were.”

“We must now seize this opportunity to return the team to the top as a mark of appreciation, as a way of repaying the faith that the Governor has in the team. This is a historic point in our club and we must achieve the success to back it up.

“As Chairman of Enyimba, I am deeply humbled by this action of the Governor, Chief T. A. Orji and I thank him sincerely for his act of kindness. It is up to you, the players, to express your own gratitude by embracing a positive and disciplined attitude so as to achieve the best results,” he said.

He further thanked the technical crew for working remarkably hard and urged the players not to lose focus on the greater challenges ahead.

Responding on behalf of the technical crew, Head Coach Salisu Yusuf also thanked the Abia State Governor, saying that the payment of fifty percent of sign-on fees before the start of the season has left him astonished. He promised to work hard with the rest of his staff to ensure the club finishes at the very top.

Players who spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting also expressed their sincere thankfulness to the Governor and promised to give everything they have got to the success of the club and in recognition to the efforts of the Government and people of Abia State.

Enyimba finished 5th last season in the NPL and have been out of continental order for the past two seasons since their semi final heroic in the CAF Champions League in 2011.