17 March 2020
Pelican Stars Female Football Club of Calabar is likely to miss out of the current season of the Nigeria Women Premier League over poor funding by the state government.
Female players and management of the club have not been paid their 9 months allowance, a situation that has brought untold hardship on the girls and club management.
The Nigeria Women Premier League kicks of tomorrow and Pelican Stars were supposed to have their opening game with Nasarawa Queens at the U.J Esuene Stadium, but the Club failed to secure clearance for the match against Nasarawa over non release of funds.
If urgent steps are not taken before the end of today, Pelican Stars will not participate in 2019/2020 season of the women league.
One of the players told newsmen that they could no longer afford to buy sanitary pads or feed well since the state government stopped their allowances.
She however said that Gov. Ben Ayade had procured an apartment for them at the beginning of the year, but lamented that they have been abandoned for 9 months without payment.
A source also revealed that the contingent from Cross River State may likely not participate in National Sport Festival holding in Edo state over non release of funds for the athletes to be in Edo.
The Governor has not released money to the Commissioner to mobilise the contingent to Edo state, even after receiving the Unity Torch for the festival.
To bring back the glory of the club and to also improve and promote sporting activities in Cross River State, the state government should release funds to enable the club compete in the Women Premier League this season.
Source: George Odok Jnr
