Footballers union decries agony of Supper Falcons News

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Footballers union decries agony of Supper Falcons

By Daily Sports on December 14, 2016

The National Association Of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) is concerned that the Super Falcons after their conquest of African and making Nigeria proud are been treated with this ridiculous profanity by the football and sports authorities.

Comrade Austin Popo, General Secretary, NANPF, in a statement issued in Lagos, lamented that since the team came back from Cameroun, the players have refused to vacate their hotel on grounds of unpaid salaries and allowances coupled with unfulfilled promises from one tournament to another, ranging from the Olympic qualifiers to the All African Games and now the African Women Championship.

“We believe this situation is avoidable with proper dialogue, sensitivity and transparency on the part of the authorities. While the Union condemn in strong terms the statement credited to the honorable Minister of Sports that adequate preparation was not made to offset the payment of the players entitlements because they did not expect them to win the AWCON Cup, the Union wants the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take responsibility by ensuring the players and the officials are paid their entitlement without further delay.

“There is no doubt the NFF is cash strapped and government release of funds is dysfunctional but it is important the welfare of the players and coaches should be of top priority in the disbursement of the little fund available or better still expect the leadership of our football and sports authorities to make personal sacrifices in ensuring the issue of players and coaches take center stage above personal interest.”

Popo further lamented: “If this is the norm, how else can one explain the information available to the Union that N40 million was expended on charter of flight to and from Cameroun on the finals of the African Women Nations Cup between Nigeria and host Cameroun. This flight carried just about 15 officials including the Hon. Minister of Sports and top echelon of the NFF while no concrete arrangement was made to pay the players and coaches with all the promises made to the players by the leadership of the NFF before the games.”

He said the Union has petitioned the Trade Union Congress to prevail on the Federal government through the Sports Ministry to step into the matter urgently and stop this national embarrassment that has gone international.

The union equally advised the leadership of the NFF against stories making the rounds about banning some of the players and coaches for demanding for their rights as this could fan the embers of further discord and should be jettisoned if it was a thought.

“Right is right. These girls have served and brought glory to their fatherland and should be feted as true champions not the other way round recession or no recession,” Popo affirmed.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 14, 2016