By Kate obodo

Nembe City Football Club of Bayelsa have earned promotion from the lower cadre to the elite cadre of Nigeria football league, Nigeria Premier League (NPL) with 31 points, after playing a goalless draw with Akwa Starlet in Uyo, without the payment of salaries and sign-on fees to their players for the 2011/2012 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The team’s General Manager, Meremu Okara, revealed  months ago, after the launching of the Bayelsa outfit that “we have the best welfare package”.

Further investigation from a reliable source  revealed that the players of the club  have not in any way benefited from the supposedly ‘best welfare package’ postulated by the general manager as the players expressed their anguish over the non payment of their salaries and sign-on fees.

One of the players who preferred  anonymity, told Inside Out Premier League that about 70% of  the players were dropped by the management of Bayelsa United without paying them their sign-on fees, three months salaries and match bonuses before they were recruited into Nembe football club.

“Most of us joined Nembe from Bayelsa because of the money they owed us  and thought things will be better. We are now facing same treatment after the promise from the C.E.O of the club. We all played our hearts  in making sure we secured promotion through our sweat but the motivation was poor.

“The new season will soon kick-off and we are yet to get our sign-on fees for last season. Some of us are bread winners of our different families but the situation here is even worse than the one we faced in Bayelsa United.”

Nembe City FC is owned by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Chairman, Rumson Victor Barribote, tutored by one of the best indigenous coaches, Coach Fekete as the technical adviser  while NPL boss’ wife plays the role of club chairman.