We are a group of Concerned Active Nigeria Professional Footballers Plying our trade in the the Professional Football leagues in Nigeria Which cut accross the NPFL, NNL, NWFL and the NWL and have decided to form a Players’ Body to warehouse the interest and protect the rights of all active players under Professional Football contract in Nigeria.
As Serving Football Players, our decision to form the Player’s Body is borne out of the urgent need to take full responsibility of becoming masters of our own destiny, having regrettably realised the failures of the existing players Unions to accommodate the inclusion of current
players in their Governance structure against best global practices.
It is equally not out of place to mention the ongoing lingering crisis amongst the existing players Unions dorminated by former Footballers, more emerged in the politics of the game than its professionalism, with its suffocating effect on the general well-being and welfare of
players and especially that of the active Professional Footballers.
The Player’s Body shall be 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 with the Players Governance Board made up of 100 percent current or active Football Players, while its Operational Board will be driven by a CEO who shall be an ex-footballer with the requisite knowledge and experience appointed by the board to promote more of players professionalism, development and welfare, above every other considerations.
The Players Board shall be using the structure of its Operational Board to carry out its activities in strict compliance to achieving its set goals and objectives Which amongst others includes:
a) To help members (players) understand their purpose as a Player and as a Person for life.
b) To provide information, advice and Support Members (players) need to help them maximise the opportunities that comes with playing Professional Football.
c) To offer Educational, Financial and General Well-being Support to Members (players).
d) To Amplify Members (players) voice to ensure their voices are properly represented to the general stakeholders and Football governing bodies.
e) To Protect and enhance Members (players) Rights and Working Conditions by holding Stakeholders and governing Bodies Accountable.
f) To help members (players) Navigate Personal and Professional Challenges and prepare them for the Future.
g) To Protect and Support Members (players) For Football and For Life.
The Active Professional Football Players Concern Group is headed by:
Augustine Festus, Captain Rivers United FC (Chairman)
Golbe Elijah Captain Plateau United FC (Vice Chairman)
Abe Sunday, Captain of Sunshine Stars FC (Secretary)
Other members include, Rabiu Ali, captain Kano Pillars FC, Maurren Tovia Okpala, captain Nasarawa Amazons FC, Joy Jerry, Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue Women FC China (diaspora) and a host of others.
We are very confident that all Nigeria active Professional Footballers under Contract in
Nigeria Football shall be delighted and proud to be part of the group. The leadership of the Concern Group is very optimistic that the proposed Player’s Body will provide the opportunity to change the current narrative and demonstrate what players unionism truly represents.
It will provide the opportunity to restore the dignity of our members through systematic engagement and constructive dialogue with Football governing bodies to get the
best for Nigeria football players.
To achieve our goals and aspirations as a body, we all, I mean all Nigeria current players, including those in diaspora must rally round and unite behind the players body to continue advancing players status stage by stage and having their rights recognized.
Finally, the body is set to open a new epoch during which our players shall be liberated and recognized as we stand united.
We shall together be the Masters of our destiny.
Sunday Abe
Secretary
Concern Group of Active Nigeria Professional Footballers. (CGANPF)
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