Luanda Villa players have gone on strike over unpaid allowances accrued from won matches and have not reported to training since Tuesday. The team is scheduled to play against SS Assad on Sunday but as it seems, they will take a squad without enough training.Villa gained promotion to the second tier from the third division this season but since the elevation, the team has struggled with squad indiscipline and recently the management had to suspend a couple of players over incitement.“We have not trained and the players have said they will not leave their houses until their allowances are paid. The club has received a lot of money from gate collections of late but as players, we can’t even see it. We feel disrespected and taken for granted,” a player who sought anonymity told Mozzart Sport.##NAJAVA_MECA_7738499##We understand the situation at the club is pathetic and since the strike started, senior officials at the Luanda-based club have moved with speed to kick out the playing unit from the respective team’s WhatsApp groupThe club has admitted it has a financial deficit as they are yet to pen down a sponsor but had elaborate plans of paying their arsenals before the last match of the year set for Sunday at the Mumboha Stadium.“There is a small problem yes because of some delay in getting our money from various sources, but we will sort it out soon. We ask more sponsors to come on board and help the team,” noted Moses Abwenje, the club chairman.Inaugural Talanta Hela U19 football tournament lives up to billing, sets up bright futureA frustrated Abwenje further said that efforts to assemble the playing unit for a candid discussion were unfruitful as the management calls went unanswered.“We have tried helping these boys but they don’t see that, before this we wanted a meeting with them to find ways of solving this matter but none of them was willing to come. We have been calling the captain but he is not answering our calls at all, several people have tried reaching him including an FKF NEC member in Vihiga but they have chosen to ignore us, then how do you help such a group?” Offered the club boss.The club administrator added,” We are disappointed, we better dissolve this team and everyone goes their way. Imagine fighting for people who don’t appreciate your work. Right now, my title deed is withheld, I took it there trying to solve the transport logistics issue, at least the team will have a bus but then this is what happens, NO! NO! We better close down.”Villa has had a financial problems from the start of the season but has defied the odds to rack in impressive results in their maiden season in the National Super League (NSL) and remains among the teams to have tasted defeat only once this term.How Kakamega Homeboyz outplayed Shabana in a midfield battleVilla are ranked 7th on the NSL log with 20 points having won four, drawn eight, and lost one match. A host of second-tier clubs will be monitoring their situation keenly ready to pounce on some of their top talents should the management exercise their threat and disband the team.
