Aftermath of 5-1 drubbing: Heartland place players on half Salary
The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club, Heartland, has reportedly placed their players on half salaries. The decision is not unconnected with shock demolition of the team by Plateau United on Wednesday February 28, at the team’s new base Awka City Stadium.
Rampaging Plateau United on the said date made mincemeat of Heartland no thanks to a 5-1 drubbing interestingly scored by five different Plateau United players.
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The humiliating defeat dropped Heartland to the bottom of the NPFL table with 18 points in 22 games, six points away from safety.
As if the 50% salary cut is not enough headache, the General Manager of the club Promise Nwachukwu has warned that the players could face more sanctions if they fail to improve.
“The club management has decided to slash the salaries of the players by half from now henceforth until the team’s performance improves,” Nwachukwu told the club’s media.
“I was just deeply rooted to one spot after the game yesterday and was the last to leave the stadium because I could not have envisaged the poor performance the players exhibited against Plateau United. They played as if nothing was at stake and as If they were bereft of ideas.”
The GM was not the only one that was dazed watching the match as reports say fans were shocked to see their team crumble like a pack of cards. The team will next host Sunshine Stars of Akure a match the players are likely to play with a lot of ‘anger’ as they seek to return to winning ways.
Meanwhile, Gombe United who travelled to Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, to take on Enyimba without their coach, Mohammed Babaganaru, who resigned before the game, were handed a 4-0 defeat by the Peoples Elephants.
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Coach Babaganaru has won the NPFL title twice in his career but has struggled to win games at Gombe United. Hence, he had to leave the club because of what he described as poor funding.
In his absence from the team, assistant coach, Alhaji Kwairanga took charge of the NPFL game against Enyimba earlier today. Thus Gombe United remain at the 19th spot in the league table with 21 points in 22 games while Enyimba shot to the top in the league table, thanks to a superior goals difference over second-place Lobi Stars.