Africa Press-Nigeria:
The world’s most popular sport, football is no longer a form of relaxation or pleasure but a money spinning business venture where highly talented players, coaches, doctors and other personnel involved in the game eke out a living.
Consequently, the various leagues in the world have put in place structures where the players are rewarded financially for their involvement in the round leather game for their various clubs and this is not different from what is obtained in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
In the NPFL, players in the 20 clubs are paid on a monthly basis just as civil servants are paid, which is in sharp contrast to what is obtained in saner climes, especially in Europe, where players are paid on a weekly basis.
18 of the 20 NPFL clubs are owned and financed by the state governments where they are located and are equally subjected to the whims and caprices of the governments.
MFM FC and FC IfeanyiUbah are the only two NPFL clubs owned by a private organisation and individual respectively.
However, they are not completely starved of financial support from the state governments where they operate.
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were ugly tales of clubs owing their players several months of salaries, allowances and sometimes, the sign-on fees.
The state governments who are always burdened with several financial commitments pay little attention to the financial needs of their clubs, in the long run, denying the players their salaries, allowances and match bonuses.
Trust Sports can report that even before the suspension of the league which was eventually cancelled by the NFF, most clubs had difficulty in paying their players during the lockdown.
Adamawa United’s attacking midfielder and captain, Tunde Adams who spoke to Trust Sports expressed his frustration playing in the league because of the treatment meted out to the players.
“Playing in the local league is really frustrating.
“Talking about salaries, means of travelling to match venues.
“Sincerely it’s frustrating. Even during the lockdown, some NPFL players couldn’t even feed themselves not to talk of giving to others.
“Some clubs don’t even pay up to the stipulated amount League Management Company mandated.
