FIFPRO Kickstart APFON Affiliation in Douala The Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) had their membership in FIFPRO scaled up in Douala, Cameroun on December 18, 2014 during a meeting with FIFPRO Africa Division officials led by Stephane Burchkalter, the Secretary General of the division. In a statement released by the Executive Secretary of APFON, Comr. Austin Popo, the meeting with the FIFPRO Africa division officials went well as concrete issues were resolved to facilitate APFON’S affiliation with FIFPRO. The delegation led by Dahiru Sadi (mfr) and Comr. Austin Popo, APFON’s Executive Secretary were well received as they were informed that the meeting is conveyed based on the Board’s recommendation to set up a special committee to look at the situation in Nigeria following series of reports received by the General Secretary on the progress made by APFON. He further reemphasized the importance of Nigeria in the development of Football in Africa and by extension its pivotal role in FIFPRO. He commended the progress made so far by APFON. He said the Committee’s job is to find out the current situation in APFON regarding the following areas: Recognition by the National Association or Federation and the Leagues Relationship with the Football Family, including the players of the leagues and National teams and the level of participation of Players in the Union’s activities, database of players, and financial situation amongst others issues. The APFON delegation provided answers both orally and in documented forms, including highlights of video recording of the 5th APFON AGA, to all the issues and questions raised as this was commended by the FIFPRO delegation. As part of FIFPRO Africa Division’s effort in fast-tracking the development of Players Union in Africa, the FIFPRO delegation through its Head of Communication Stephane Saint Raymond presented a documentary to the APFON delegation showing key areas of strategic development plans and work carried out by the Division; such as the Declaration of Faith, MOU with CAF and the Winning in Africa with African Footballers amongst many others Following the presentation, the General Secretary Burchkalter, emphasized four key areas APFON must focus on which will be necessary to fast-track its development and affiliation, these includes: The Establishment of Players out of Contract Competition ( a work perspective) Building relationship and winning support of National team Players The Establishment of a Standard Contract of Employment for Football Professionals in line with FIFA’s minimum standard The Establishment of a viable and rewarding Players Award Event. According to the General Secretary all of these activities will hasten the confidence and the necessary image the Union requires to reinforce and formalize the signing of its cooperation agreement with the National Federation. Furthermore, the FIFPRO delegation commended the initiative of the MOU entered into between APFON and the Association of Proprietors of Football Academies of Nigeria (APFAN) as one of the most veritable platform for the Union to indoctrinate young players with doctrines and culture of the Union. Conclusively, the FIFPRO team through its General Secretary informed the APFON delegation of its satisfaction with its progress, the report of the meeting he said, will be discussed in FIFPRO Africa Division Board meeting in the month of February 2015 in Morocco, after which APFON will be invited to its Congress in Namibia in June 2015 where a decision will be taken to communicate the admission of APFON as an observer status to FIFPRO headquarters.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:22:58 +0000