Chairman, Interim Board of Nigeria Players Union, Captain Abe Sunday has called on professional football players in the country to ensure they secure their future during active years.
He gave the advice in Akure while delivering his address at the congress of the union on Saturday.
Abe, who had played in national team, lamented that players are neglected by their clubs managements whenever they sustained career-threatening injuries.
He said players always shouldered their medical expenses whenever the sustained serious injuries.
Explaining the importance of the union and reasons active professional players took over the control of the union, Abe said: “Our resolve to take over the governance Board of the players Union is to enable us put an end to the lingering and unabated crisis which rocked the Union for many years occasioned by the dominant presence of ex-footballers in the governance Board of the union.
“As serving football players, our decision to take over the governance Board is borne out of the urgent need to take full responsibility of becoming masters of our own destiny, having regrettably realized the failures of our senior and retired players to accommodate the inclusion of current players in the Union Governance structure against best global practices.
“The new governance structure is strategically and deliberately fashioned after the Governance and Administrative structures of the foremost and most successful players body in the world, the “ Professional Footballers Association (PFA) in England where the Players’ Board is made up of 95 percent current or active Football Players, while its Operational Board is driven by appointed ex-Footballers and Professionals from other related industry to run and manage the union on their behalf by focusing more in promoting players’ welfare, development and Professionalism above all other considerations.
“We are very confident that the new governance structure will give all Nigeria football players under contract in Nigeria the opportunity to be part of decision-making and taking process in all matters that affect their careers and future
“It will offer a new era where the players body will be more concern in providing opportunities to its members to develop and improve their careers and safeguard their future.
“It will provide the opportunity to restore the dignity of members through systematic engagement and constructive dialogue with Football governing bodies to get the best for Nigeria football and footballers.
“Finally, I will like to appeal to the clubs captains, my colleagues who are delegates of the congress and the rest of our members in the leagues to collectively stand in solidarity behind the union as that is the only we can achieve our collective goals and aspirations.”
In a communique issued and signed at the congress by communique drafting committee members( Morris Silas, Chairman, Golbe Elisha, Vice Chairman, Rabo Mohammed, Ademola Omidiji, Kennedy Onwunali, Augustine Festus and Bello Lasoro, Secretary) members of the union resolved, among others, that “wants the TUC to prevail on the NFF to revisit the decisions from the tripartite meeting of December 27th 2014 between, TUC, NFF and the Players’ Union regarding directives to Clubs through the various leagues bodies for deduction and remittance of Membership dues to the union, including the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with guarantee fund for the union in line with global best practices
“The Congress in session wants the league bodies and the clubs to improve on the general welfare of players in areas of salaries, travels to matches, match fixtures, capacity building, etc that guarantee their safety, security and comfort in carrying out their assignments
“The Congress in session wants the NFF to set up as a matter of urgent necessity the “ Professional Football Negotiating and Consultation committee made up of representatives of the Football Federation, the Leagues, the Clubs and the Players’ union to discuss all matters affecting the game and players, no change to a player’s condition should be made without the union’s contributions in line with global best practices.”
In the communique red by Peter Nieketien of Lagos Legends Club, the new Board was mandated, among others, to ensure “reactivation of the “Footballers Welfare Foundation “ (FWF), a registered body with CAC; the Footballers Contributory Pension Scheme and National Health Insurance Scheme; a training camp/programme for unemployed players members for capacity building and creation of jobs.
“Partnership with the Community Football Foundation (CFF) to facilitate the establishment of more football clubs that are community/membership association owned as a means of providing jobs opportunities for players members.”
