Nigerian players have been assured of good welfare packages in the 2015/2016 season, as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), League Management Company (LMC), and the club owners are concerned over the plight of some players and teams in the just concluded season.
While addressing the players and officials of Niger Tornadoes, who are camping in Ilorin ahead of the season at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Alloy Chukwuemeka, who is the acting secretary of the Club Owners Association, said poor welfare for players nearly overshadowed the successes recorded in the last season.
Players and officials of clubs like Warri Wolves, El-Kanemi, Dolphins, and FC Taraba had running battles with their teams about salaries and allowances. Taraba was the worst hit.
Chukwuemeka said the LMC under the leadership of Shehu Dikko is working on making the league better for players and coaches, the pivot upon which the system revolves, and they should adequately remunerated.
He congratulated Niger Tornadoes for gaining promotion to the Premier League, welcomed them to Ilorin, and charged them to prepare well for the NPFL.
He assured the team of total support, especially as it plans to adopt Ilorin as its new home, recalling that ABS FC enjoyed the same support from the people and government of Niger State when it adopted Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna as its home ground some years back.
In appreciation of the good gesture enjoyed by ABS FC when it was at home in Minna, Chukwuemeka on behalf of his club donated 200 bags of water to the Niger Tornadoes team for use during training.
He urged the players to be disciplined and take advantage of the conducive atmosphere and good facilities in Kwara, the State of Harmony, and commended Coach Abdullahi Biffo, whom he described as a honest and hardworking manager.
Biffo expressed appreciation to the people and government of Kwara for their support, and to Chukwuemeka for his support and concern.
