By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Old Edwardians Football Club have suspended their coach, Patrick Bangura. Bangura sparked outrage from club executives on Friday night after his comments about the team’s welfare situation.
Bangura, who was speaking at the post match press conference on Friday evening, said: “After the match I was able to find out that the guys have been grumbling that they have not received their salary for three months. Up to now we haven’t received salary. It is just because of my courage and my motivation that is why they even played this particular match.”
On Friday Old Edwardians lost to FC Johansen 2-0, making this their third consecutive defeat in a row.
“…They have their own families to take care of. Playing without salary is not an easy thing,” Bangura later added.
In a statement on Saturday announcing his suspension, the club said Bangura’s comments were “unfounded” and “baseless”.
The club said they had paid salaries of all players and staff for December.
“As a matter of fact, the club paid all staff members in December and has been working on meeting its labor obligations for January 2020 in the coming days,” a portion of the statement reads.
On Friday, Bangura said he was almost sure that he might lose his job after the team’s performance.
Patrick Opoku Bangura has been announced as the caretaker coach and he will be deputized by Momoh Dumbuya.
Edwards say they are launching an investigation into the whole incident. The scope of the investigation has not been announced.
Edwards who started their season brightly have been stuck on five points and are quickly slipping into the relegation zone.
Last season the club spent much of the first half of the season in and out of the relegation zone.
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