Delfin de Manta, the champion of Ecuadorian soccer in 2019, still does not receive the "$100,000 prize" for winning the LigaPro Serie A title thirteen months ago, despite the fact that the 2020 tournament -from which a new monarch, Barcelona, emerged- "has already ended", according to the president of the Manabita club.
In an interview with El Canal del Fútbol on Tuesday, José Delgado expressed his "concern" about the financial situation of the cetacean team, which includes the debt he has indicated regarding the domestic tournament two seasons ago.
"They still haven't paid us the prize we won as champions (2019). They owe us $100,000. The championship (2020) is already over and we are still pending to receive it," declared the executive.
Delfin achieved the first national championship for Manabí after defeating Liga de Quito in the penalty shootout (2-1) on December 15, 2019, at the Jocay stadium. The series between the cetaceans and the albos ended in a goalless draw and Sergio López and Luis Cangá's successes were enough from the penalty spot to overshadow Jordy Alcívar's good aim, since the university students missed their next four shots.
Other categories
The champion's prize is not the only "concern" that Delgado expressed. The financial situation in the Mantse club is also affected by the lack of sufficient income, especially those that are destined for player payments.
"The club's income is mainly three: ticket sales, sponsors, and TV rights. This year we will start the same way we ended the previous year, without an audience (in stadiums); therefore, this item has zero income. The sponsors, due to the economic crisis (due to COVID)... It will be difficult (to achieve sufficient returns). And regarding the TV rights, because of the delays, some mediation should be sought to fulfill the commitments to the clubs and thus have an income that allows the payment to the players, a responsibility that we assume independently of whether the channel (GolTV) has not fulfilled theirs," detailed the main cetacean.
Approximately "two months" correspond to the values that have not entered Delfin through TV rights, the executive emphasized.
To date, and since last August, there have been manifest disagreements between GolTV and a group of cable operators for the offer of the channel that broadcasts the national soccer championship. (D)