‘Sunshine Stars playing on an empty stomach’

Sunshine Stars are “playing on an empty stomachs” as they are yet to be paid salaries for the past five months.

The Akure club lost 0-1 at home to MFM FC of Lagos last Sunday and they blamed the loss on the lack of motivation in the team.

The Sunshine players said they are yet to receive any salary this year, while they have also not been paid for three months last year.

“We are playing on an empty stomach. How do you expect any result when the motivation is not there?” said one of the affected players.

“I regret joining this club called Sunshine Stars. The team who defeated us at home MFM of Lagos are not spectacular, but our boys are not playing with the same zeal, some are committed players, while some are used to cash from the clubs they are coming from and this is affecting the team now.”

Meanwhile, an official of Sunshine Stars has denied the reports that the team’s players play on an empty stomach.

He rather blamed the team’s 0-1 home defeat last Sunday on ill-luck.

The official who pleaded for anonymity however, said the players are owed salaries like other civil servants in the state but not up to five months.

“The management are really working hard to pay the salaries of the players but the truth of the matter is that the salary issue affects other civil servants in the state who were last paid in July last year. So, our players need to calm down and let us focus on our next game and see how we can make up for the home defeat.

“Our loss to MFM was as a result of ill-luck and inexperience. Some of our regular players missed the match due to injury and we had to make use of the new ones and that is one of the reasons we lost and that is football for you.

“Rangers lost their opening game and heaven did not fall but I believe we will get back on track,” he said.