PFAN faults Gusau’s Players Reconciliation Committee insists on legal battle

By Akeem Busari

The Task Force Committee of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria(PFAN) led by Harrison Jalla, has reacted quickly to the issues raised by the just inaugurated Players Reconciliation Committee set up NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

The 5-man Committee with Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shuaibu as Chairman, and also have Ex-Nigeria International players, Emmanuel Okala MON,Dr. Felix Owolabi Akinloye MON, Garba Lawal, as members and Abdulrasaq Yusuf, as Secretary, is tasked with reconciling the players union in two months.

In its release, the PFAN Task Force stated as follows, (1). That on Tuesday the 6th of December 2022, the PFAN task force attended a meeting at the instance of the NFF at the Sunday Dankaro House and presided over by Ibrahim Gusau. In attendance were the Deputy Governor of Edo State His Excellency Commrade Philip Shuaibu, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, yours sincerely led the PFAN task force team comprising Dahiru Sadi (MFR), Austin Popo, Edema Fuludu (MON) and Chief Rumson Victor Baribote.

(2). The meeting is a continuation of an ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiated by the Mohammed Kurfi led States Football Association Chairmen on the disputed September 30th NFF election which is pending in the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

(3).That the PFAN task force was looking forward to an independent committee to address urgent reforms, imbalance, equity and fair representation in the composition of the NFF Congress, its Board and sub-committees in consonance with decisions reached at the meeting of 6th of December and previous meetings.

(4). That the players Union have no issues for reconciliation. And if even there are such issues,  it is not within the purview of the NFF to set up a committee to address such issues. Such issues, if any, are internal matters of the players union, as an independent organisation and does not require any external influence.

The PFAN task force consider this report a serious mix up and urged the NFF to focus on resolving the  issues pending in court as agreed in the December 6th meeting.