By Maduabuchi Kalu on October 15, 2016

The Nigerian Players’ Union has warned of the impending disqualification of Nigerian clubs from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions on the grounds of none payment of players and coaches salaries by the various clubs that have qualified to represent the country in CAF organised competition next year.

The players union said the just ended 2015/16 season saw spectacular performances from some clubs which automatically placed them in key position to participate in CAF Competitions namely: Rangers International FC of Enugu, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt (formerly Sharks and Dolphins FC) and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

While congratulating these clubs for the feat they achieved during the out gone season, it regretted that these clubs heavily owe players and coaches huge sums of money in form of salaries including the enhanced 2014/15 season salaries. It explained that despite the barrages of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Status/Arbitration Committee awarding and reaffirming these debts, they are yet to be enforced by these clubs.

The union said as a recognised labour union passionately championing the cause of professional footballers in Nigeria it is concerned that in the midst of the jamboree and fanfare that followed the achievement of these clubs, the purported cash gifts and allocations to these clubs following their success, they seem to have swore to starve players and coaches of these salaries and as usual disobey NFF Arbitration Committee decisions.

The body said this culture of clubs depriving players and coaches of their means of livelihood must stop. They further explained that they have written to the clubs that qualified for the 2017 CAF Competitions and Commissioners of Sports in the various states clarifying the following:

“That it is in the best interest of the players, coaches, the club, the country and image of the game, that the clubs liquidate these debts for the current and former players and obey the NFF arbitration decisions without further delay.

“That refusal or neglect of payment is a ‘MORTAL SIN’ that will lead to unintended consequences and golden embarrassment, as the club will have to contend with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in breach of Article 3.1 of the CAF Club Licensing Regulations.

“That failure to pay these players will translate to non-registration cum expulsion of the team from CAF Competitions and activation of the punitive fangs of the CAF Licensing regulation

“That if they were hoping on participating in the CAF Competitions without liquidating these debts, it could only be a wishful thinking, for they will not be given licenses and other clubs that liquidate their debts will surely take their place.

“In conclusion, the players union implored well meaning Nigerians to demand that these clubs comply with the payment of players and coaches as stipulated in International Sports Laws, NFF Decisions and CAF rules and regulations to avoid embarrassing the country.”

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 15, 2016

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