In a move that has been tagged as ‘taking your destiny by your hand’, the body of Concerned Clubs Captains plying their trade in the Nigeria Premier Football League, including the Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football and Nationwide leagues, led by Captain Abe Sunday of Sunshine Stars FC, and current Chairman of the Players Union in Ondo State, have resolved to take over the Governance Board of the Players Union — as a means of putting an end to the lingering and unabated crisis rocking the Union occasion by the dominant presence of Ex Footballers in the current governance Board of the union, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
According to a document signed by Abe Sunday made available to Platinum News, the decision to take over the board is informed by the failure of their seniors and retired players and will also give others a sense of belonging.
“As Serving Football Players, our decision to take over the governance Board is born out of the urgent need to take full responsibility for becoming masters of our 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.”
“It is equally not out of place to mention the ongoing lingering crisis in the Union resulting in the emergence of new unions everywhere that are more preoccupied with the politics of Football, than focusing on players’ welfare and Development.”
The new governance Structure has been 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 100 percent current or active Football Players, while its Operational Board is driven by appointed and elected ex Footballers as CEO and members of the National Administrative council, with the requisite knowledge and experience to promote more of players professionalism, development and welfare, above every other consideration.
Sunday Abe further said that the Players Board shall be using the structure of its Operational Board to carry out its activities in strict compliance with 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 come with playing Professional Football
C) To offer Educational, Financial and General Well-being Support to Members (players)
D) To Amplify Members (players) voices 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 Life.
Expressing optimism in a bright future for the body, Sunday said “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 the decision-making and taking process in all matters that affect their careers and future.”
The Interim chairman of the board assured the active players of experiencing a new wave of good leadership that would come with benefits for their careers.
“It will offer a new era where the players’ body will be more concerned in providing opportunities to its members to develop and improve their careers and safeguard their futures. 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.”
Conclusively, for effective and maximum delivery of its objectives, the new governance structure is expected to carry out its operations with the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) Certificate of Registrar of Trade Unions Certificate. The Interim Governance Board will however be inaugurated in the coming days.