Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL) side, Sunshine Stars were on Wednesday locked out from the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) pitch in Akure by protesting ex-Sunshine Stars players.
The ex-Stars are said to be protesting over non-payment of their accumulated sign-on fees for about two, three seasons.
The Owena Waves were recently docked three points from their accrued points due to some infractions on the rules of the domestic league by the league body, League Management Company.
The Akure landlords have a date with the seven-time Nigerian champions, Enyimba in Calabar on Sunday for the NPFL match day 10 clash.
Source informed that barely the team settled down for the day business at the ODSFA office ground than the aggrieved ex-players rudely chased away everybody and ended up their mission by padlocking the whole place.
“Yes, the team were chased out of the place this morning (Wednesday) upon arrival for their routine training by aggrieved and protesting ex-Sunshine Stars players who went ahead to padlock the whole premise. As we speak the place is still padlocked.
“We learnt that the ex-Stars were protesting over non-payment of their sign-on fees by the government for the past two, three seasons.
“We understand that this is always a ploy by the ex-Stars to get the authorities attention to their plight.
“Sunshine Stars chose the pitch to train because it is grass same as the pitch Enyimba play on in Calabar.
“Stars are guests of Enyimba in Sunday’s NPFL match day 10 clash.
“The disruption of the team’s training schedule is ill-timed as the side are expected to head off to Calabar on Friday for the clash at Enyimba in Calabar on Sunday.
“Besides, the team have crowded schedule as they are meant to face MFM FC and Enugu Rangers upon return from Calabar on Wednesday and Sunday respectively in Akure.
“The team need all the support of everyone at this trying time to be able to weather the storm as well as position the team on the path of recovery and could hardly afford the distraction of the ex-Stars or any other persons,” said the source to supersport.com.
The Akure side are 19th on the 20-team top-flight log on nine points seven behind league leaders, Akwa United.
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