Wike redeems $20k promise to each Rivers United players for winning NPFL

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has redeemed his pledge of $20,000 to each player of Rivers United football club, for winning the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.

In June, Rivers United won their first-ever NPFL title with four games to spare.

In July, in line with the celebration of the club’s triumph, Wike announced a reward of $20,000 for each player when he hosted the team in a grand reception at the state house.

Wike had earlier commended the Rivers United team for making the state proud and conferred them with the Governor’s Medal of Service (GMS).

GSM is the third-highest distinction in the state order, conferred on individuals in recognition of their exceptional service or performance in any field of human endeavour.

The redemption of the promise was confirmed in a statement to TheCable on Saturday.

“To ensure that you are prepared for the CAF competition, each of you will go home with twenty thousand dollars,” Wike said.

During the presentation ceremony on Friday, Christopher Green, Rivers state sports commissioner, charged players and officials of the club to continue to be great ambassadors.

“We have the best governor in Nigeria and he will not relent in supporting this team so I urge us all to continue to be great ambassadors of Rivers state,” he said.

On Friday, the football club, via its official Twitter handle shared a post with the caption: “Governor Nyesom Wike redeems $20,000 pledge to each player and official of Rivers United for emerging champions of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League.”

Governor Nyesom Wike redeems $20,000 pledge to each player and official of Rivers United for emerging champions of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League pic.twitter.com/QyZbV7MFTQ

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— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) December 23, 2022

Rivers United are the sole Nigerian club left in Inter Confederation of African Football (CAF) Club competition this season.

The Port Harcourt club is in group B of the 2022/23 Confederation Cup, alongside Diables Noirs (Congo Brazzaville), Daring Club Motemba Pembe (Congo DR), and ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast).