Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has
approved about N220 million for the payment of the 2012/2013 sign-on fees owed
players and coaches of Rangers International FC.
Paul Ozor, the
General Manager of Rangers, who made the disclosure on telephone to the News
Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the governor gave the approval on Thursday in
Enugu.Ozor said: “The governor has approved all the monies we proposed to him.
“He signed it yesterday (Thursday).
“About N220 million for the sign-on fees and few other things.
“The approval is for all the players, coaches, technical officials, among others.
“This will serve as a big motivation for the players who are already in Kano for our match against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.”
The general manager said that the approval had already been passed to the budget office of the state from where it would go to the Commissioner for Finance.
According to Ozor, the Commissioner for Finance will forward the approval to the Accountant-General of the state before payments will be made to the beneficiaries.
Ozor commended the state governor for the gesture, adding that it would enable Rangers FC to meet the League Management Company’s directive to premier league clubs to settle outstanding debts of their players.
He noted that apart from the sign-on fees, no other debt, including salaries, was owed the players and coaches.
The sign-on fees owed the players had weighed down their morale, having lost eight matches with three draws in the ongoing season.
Rangers are currently placed 13th on the Nigeria Professional Football League table, with 24 points from 18 matches.
However, their match El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri has been deferred by the LMC following the death of Emir of Kano on Friday.
The league’s organisers said it was to honour the deceased traditional head of the ancient town.