The League Management Company (LMC) yesterday revealed that it has deducted some amount of money from the sum accruing to Enugu Rangers and El Kanemi Warriors from sponsorship income to settle the debts the clubs owe bedridden Coach Kelechi Emeteole.
According to the LMC, the said amount represents salary claims by the coach on the two clubs, adding that it made the payment which will now be deducted from the clubs’ Annual Basic Award.
In a letter conveying the payment to Emeteole through his wife, Phoebe, LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko informed the family that the payment was made to their United Bank of Africa account and also notified them that the LMC was in contact with a group of former player colleagues of the coach based in the United States, led b y Godwin Odiye, who are also launching a fundraising campaign for Emeteole.
He explained that the LMC were unable to reach Heartland as the club was at the end of last season relegated from the NPFL.
The LMC actually made the payments and would deduct the said money from the two clubs when making the payout due to NPFL clubs from sponsorship incomes.
“Please note that this total sum consists of money being owed by El-Kanemi Warriors and Rangers International. We have been constrained in reaching Heartland FC for the similar purpose as the club is no longer in the NPFL”, Dikko explained.
Odiye, a teammate of Emeteole in the 1980 Nations Cup winning Green Eagles communicated the fund raising effort to the LMC through another former international and former Director General, National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, who also was in the 1980 victorious squad.
Source: The Guardian
