Stakeholders at the workshop and seminar organized by the National Association of Nigerian Professional Players Enugu State Chapter (NANPF) held at the Board Room of the Enugu State Football Association recently to enhance participation towards achieving players welfare and well-being ,have given kudos to the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers(NANPF) Enugu state chapter for deeming it fit to draw all stakeholders in the football ecosystem together and in a round table discussions on issues around players welfare and wellbeing and with particular reference to circumstances motivating negative behaviours amongst players such as betting/match fixing and other negative coping mechanism which in turn affect their growth in life .
Speaking during the event ,the Enugu state Commissioner for Youth and Sports represented by Coach Ephraim Ochonma the director of Coaching in the ministry applauded the efforts and the move by the Football Union and describing it as a right step from right direction to keep players ,club owners and managers well informed and to ensure a smooth and steady relationship .
The Enugu state Football Association Chairman represented by the Vice Chairman Barrister Monday NNaona applauded the union for thinking towards the direction of getting all stakeholders together and reaching out to players through a robust educational framework and assured that the state football Association will continue to be laying their support to NANPF Enugu state Chapter.
In his remarks,the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Ben Asogwa maintain that National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) is a baby of Trade union Congress and that the congress will continue to lay all the necessary support and back up in line with established rules towards ensuring that National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) realizes its noble objectives and achieving its mandate.
Earlier in his remark ,the state chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers Coach Ebere Amaraizu had welcomed all the stakeholders and reminding them that there efforts towards helping to constantly reach out and educate these players to be well guided will not be taken for granted .
We are aware of the Nigeria Premier Football League framework as it concerns betting/Match fixing and other conducts by players ,officials and club members ,our duty is to work in partnership with all the stakeholders including the league management body to deepen the awareness and make players and others to digest it and be guided by it .
The stakeholders workshop with the theme Enhancing stakeholders Participation towards achieving players welfare and wellbeing wereCommit attended by clubs representatives ,Enugu state Chairman of the Nigeria Referee Association ,State Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria ,State Executives of National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) and produced the following as Communique :
1.Commitment to players welfare with non-conflict of interest.The Association reaffirmed that its primary function remains the enhancement of players welfare and general well being and on this ,NANPF assured to operate with transparency and neutrality ,avoiding conflict of interest in all its engagements .
2.Continuous Sensitization and Advocacy.On this ,NANPF shall intensify its efforts to sensitize players in partnership with the league management body ,clubs and other stakeholders through regular seminars ,workshops and other engagement .These sensitizations and advocacy will focus on knowledge of the NpFl frameworks and rules ,rights awareness,protection of terms of agreement between player and employer,his welfare and things that will promote their general well being as well as other challenges affecting their productivity within the football ecosystem .
3.There was also the issue of health and insurance and medical support system by clubs to enhance their productivity and wellness as well as development of Sustainable player support programs which will help to promote players productivity and livelihood in terms of physical fitness,,mental and emotional wellbeing for holistic well being .These programs include Mentorship programs for players,Carear Counselling ,financial literacy and management and guidance for retired players with effective monitoring .
