Jabir cries for unpaid salary

More than a decade after his engagement with Black Meteors, Veteran gaffer and former Asante Kotoko coach, Malik Jabir, has made a heartfelt appeal to the government for the payment of his three-year salary arrears. 

Engaged in 2013 on a three-year contract to coach the national Under 23 team, Jabir was to receive a monthly salary of $3000. 

However, he was only compensated for the first three months under the tenure of former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwasi Nyantakyi.

In an emotional interview with Graphic Sports last Friday, the 79-year-old coach expressed his frustration and disappointment over the non-payment of his salary and the lack of any financial recognition after leading the Black Meteors to victory in the 2013 tournament in Congo. 

Despite instructions from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to investigate and adequately compensate him, Jabir claims that the directive has been ignored.

Jabir estimates that he is owed around $100,000 and stressed the importance of receiving his due compensation while he is still alive, rather than having tributes and donations made posthumously. 

He recounted the poor treatment he endured, including the lack of weekly allowances, bonuses, and even an official appointment letter outlining his conditions of service. Jabir's only evidence of employment is the payment of his salary for the first three months.

Efforts to retrieve his unpaid money included a meeting with President Akufo-Addo, who instructed the deputy Youth and Sports minister to ensure Jabir was paid. 

According to him, despite the current GFA President, Kurt Okraku, confirming that the necessary confirmation was sent to the ministry, Jabir's attempts to follow up were met with delays and unavailability of the minister, leading him to eventually cease his efforts.

''I even went to the President to inform him, at that time the deputy minister was there so he (Akufo Addo) told him to go and see his boss (the minister) so they would go to GFA and verify if it was the case then they bring it back to him and he will see what he can do.

''After months of delay and persistent calls, the GFA President finally confirmed to me that he has sent the confirmation to the ministry. I went from Kumasi to Accra a few times to follow up and each time I got there they told me the minister was not there, so I got tired and stopped following up,'' the former ASFA Yennenga coach said.

A one-time technical adviser of Kano Pillars, Jabir also reflected on his unlucky tenure as a national team coach and highlighted his dedication and contributions without financial reward.

Even when sent to Winneba to continue his coaching duties alone after the departure of C.K Gyamfi and Ben Koufie, he received no compensation for his work.