Lulu charges APFON on players’ registration

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, has called on the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria ,APFON, to initiate a process that will facilitate a data bank for all professional footballers in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, during a courtesy visit and award presentation by the executive council of APFON, the NFF President, also charged the players’ body to develop programmes and activities that would bring it to the forefront of football development in the nation.

The Kogi State born football administrator, who promised to give APFON adequate support to enrich their programmes, wants the body to reach out to the the world body, Fifpro in a bid to acquint themselve with the the latest happenings in Fifpro and also reach out to other players' body in other countries.

“As a Member of the Nigeria Football Federation, the Federation will always be there to give you support in your programmes and events. But we also want you to constantly reach out to the world body, FifPRO and know what they are doing and also reach out to other players’ bodies in other countries and know what they do to motivate the professional players in their countries.

“I am happy to say that APFON has been a very faithful Member of the NFF and has always been part of our programmes, despite the body’s several constraints”, said Lulu Abdullahi.

APFON President Dahiru Sadi, a former Nigerian international, praised the present NFF administration for qualifying Nigeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and for its several positive programmes that has placed Nigeria football on the front burner at international level.

He then went ahead to make presentation of a ‘Special Merit Award’ plaque to the NFF President, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, who promptly dedicated the award to the Nigeria football family.

Also present at the occasion were NFF Executive Committee Member, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, NFF General Secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba, DGS (Technical) Emmanuel Ikpeme, APFON Secretary General Austin Popo, Wisdon Nwachukwu (FCT Co-ordinator), Idowu Otubusin (Oyo State Co-ordinator), Sani Adamu (Plateau State Co-ordinator),