NPFL: Wolves boycott training

Players of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Warri Wolves have began a warning strike to press for their unpaid wages, supersport.com has been informed.

The angry players boycotted training on Tuesday evening after honouring the morning session, it was learned.

Wolves have failed to pay their players salaries for the month of January, and the players fear that

could extend to February.

The players also claimed they are still owed 30 percent of their signing-on fees for last season despite an agreement by clubs with the League Management Company (LMC) to abolish such fees and put in place improved salaries.

One of the influential players of the club told supersport.com: "It is so disheartening that after working we still haven't been paid. The club needs to know that we have a life apart from being footballers. We have families and dependents. They have not paid us for the last month, and they still owe us 30 percent signing-on fees for last season."

"We, the players, are not happy with what they are doing to us. How can we continue to play on empty stomachs? And at the same time we can't provide for our families when we should. Apart from the salary and signing-on fees, we haven't been paid match bonuses for five matches, including four matches from last season's league," another player revealed.

The players of the Warri club have now threatened to boycott the second leg, preliminary round match against RC Bobo-Dioulasso in the Caf Confederation Cup this Saturday.

"If nothing is done about the money owed us, then we will stay away from the Caf Confederation Cup on Saturday and we will continue to stay away from training afterwards," warned one of the players.

Wolves take a one-goal lead into Saturday's game following their 1-0 win in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The club are owned and financed by the Delta State government.