Jerome Dung, once a key midfielder for Plateau United Football Club of Jos and a member of the squad that clinched the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) championship in 2017, has expressed deep disappointment over unkept promises made by former Governor Simon Bako Lalong.
Following their landmark triumph, the players were assured individual rewards of 1.5 million naira alongside land allocations as tokens of appreciation.
Known affectionately as the “Lalong Boys,” the team overcame numerous obstacles throughout the 2016/2017 campaign to secure Plateau United’s inaugural NPFL title. At a celebratory event, Governor Lalong committed to awarding all 45 squad members with monetary bonuses and prime Jos land parcels.
Promises extended beyond the players to include the technical team, with then-head coach Kennedy Boboye slated to receive 2.5 million naira, and other staff members guaranteed 2 million naira each.
Yet, nearly a decade later, neither the players-many of whom have since departed the club-nor the coaching personnel have been compensated as pledged. This ongoing neglect has sparked frustration among former team members, who are now appealing to the current Governor Caleb Mutfwang administration to honor these outstanding commitments.
In a poignant message shared on social media, Dung recounted the struggles endured by his ex-colleagues and coaching staff. He particularly mourned the loss of Coach Audu Pele, whose family was unable to afford critical medical care due to financial hardship.
“It has been eight years since we defied expectations to win the league in the 2016/2017 season for our cherished Plateau United FC, famously called the Lalong Boys,” Dung remarked. “Governor Simon Lalong was elated by our success and promised each player 1.5 million naira and a plot of land as a reward. However, after all this time, neither the money nor the land has materialized.”
“We have exercised patience, but the promised rewards remain elusive. Out of the 45 players, 23 were not natives of Plateau State, yet they fought relentlessly alongside us to achieve this historic milestone-an achievement that should be celebrated as one of the highlights of Lalong’s tenure and a proud moment for Plateau State.”
He also highlighted the precarious situations many former teammates now face, with some retired and others struggling to secure contracts, jeopardizing their ability to provide for their families.
“As I have stated in earlier posts and videos, it doesn’t matter where the funds come from; we simply want the recognition and rewards we rightfully earned,” Dung concluded.
