The Nigeria Football Players Union (NFPU) has honoured the proprietor of the apex Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) side Naija Ratels FC for his outstanding contribution and records in grassroots development of football in the country.
The union also honoured Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, owner of Mailantarki Care Academy.
Speaking at the ceremony which held in Abuja, President of the Union, Abdul Sule, described the awardees as very important persons in the society.
He said they were among the very few Nigerians who care for the youth and can go any length to spend their money to give them future.
“Our awardees are very important persons in our society. They are men who spend their hard earned resources to support the youths and they have been very successful. Take example of Mailantarki, he has been doing this for years, he has been spending his money on the youths for years making sure that the players welfare are taken care of, making football very much easier for them. If others are doing part of what he is doing, we will harness the great talents we have in abundance.
“Are we talking about Barrister Paul Edeh. He has been fantastic. He is taking care of young girls who had no hope and now he has given them hope and future. He has done so much for those girls to make sure they become who they are supposed to be. The future is bright for them and their families are happy. We as a football players union are equally happy and that’s why we felt it right and worthy to honour these men as a source of encouragement. Today some of them are playing in the national teams. He organises international games in the country for them, bring teams from other parts of the continent.
“When someone gets a part on the back for doing something, it’s an encouragement to do more. They are doing all this without government assistance and yet they have continued to forge ahead. It’s not because they are very rich but because they have the interest of the youth at heart. It’s very amazing,” he said.
The ex-international further said the duo need to be given both national and international recognition because of their contributions to the development of grassroots football in the country cannot be quantified, adding that if a body that has seen it all in football game like the football players union does not do it, no other body will do it.
