BY KUNLE SOLAJA

On Sunday in Lagos, just about the time the Super Eagles were battling Central African Republic in Douala in the qualifying series for the World Cup, a new players’ union for Nigerian footballers was being unveiled.

That increases the number of players’ union in the country by one. Before then, there had been the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) being run by Harrison Jalla; the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) under Tijani Babangida.

The latter was reported to have secured affiliation to the world body, Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO)  in Amsterdam, Holland two years ago.

The new footballers’ body All Nigerian Players Union (ANPU) has another former Super Eagles player, Abdul Sule as its president. Sule a former Stationary Stores fullback who made his debut for Nigeria in an ECOWAS Cup duel in Bauchi against Sennegal on 28 January 1990 was capped eight times under Clemens Westerhof.

FIFA Centurion, Joseph Yobo who did not attend the unveiling event as he was with the Super Eagles in Douala, is named as the First Vice President. He had 100 international cap for Nigeria since his debut against Zambia in Chingola on 24 March 2001.

Another retired international player, Julius Aghahowa is the treasurer while Chikelue Iloenusi who made his international debut in the 0-0 draw Nigeria had in a World Cup qualifier against Eritrea in Asmara on 9 April 2000, is the chairman of the Board of Trustees.  

The General Secretary is Olisah Onuchukwu, the Sporting Director/CEO at Nnewi United football club.

According to Monday Kanu, the spokesman for ANPU, the body came into being owing to the  deplorable and steady decline in the standard of living of retired footballers.   

“Penury, depression and ill health looms large, everywhere! It is on record that some few persons took the destiny of the Nigerian players for granted.

“These few individuals did whatever their fickle and parochial minds could muster without any consideration for the masses of the players.

“The pretenders that paraded themselves as managers of the affairs of the Union in a long time were only there for what to put in their pockets or like we say in the local parlance, stomach infrastructure instead of the welfare of the players.

“What has been the case in time past is akin to the situation with the Pharisees and Scribes that refuse to enter the Kingdom of God. For they neither enter themselves nor allow others to do so”, the statement issued at the Sunday unveiling read.

According to Monday Kanu, there was nothing wrong in the plurality of players’ unions.  

He told Sports Village Square that the situation was akin to what is obtained in other climes. He gave the labour unions and accounting bodies as examples.

“There is the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. The accountants in Nigeria have  Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) ICAN and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).”

He argued that the same principle follows in the formation of another footballers’ union. He further told www.sportsvillagesquare.com that within four days of its creation, ANPU already had over 200 members and the figure kept growing.

He further pointed out that owing to the surge in membership, a whatspp group platform created was already considering migrating to Telegram which accommodates larger group members than the limit of 256 of Whatsapp.

“The bulk of the members are  current and retired player that reach out to us on their own expressing interest to be part of the Union. The growth of our platform is so rapid such that we are about to migrate to Telegram. The membership would be formalised through some necessary documentation eventually.”

Regarding international affiliation, Kanu remarked that the process was ongoing and that they also had members in the Diaspora who were fully dedicated to pilot the ANPU affairs internationally.

At the moment, it is the Tijani Babangida led NANPF that appears to have a link with FIFPRO.