"I Was Distressed When I Heard How NFF Plans To Share $500,000 FIFA Relief Fund" - Akwa United Chairman

"I Was Distressed When I Heard How NFF Plans To Share $500,000 FIFA Relief Fund" - Akwa United Chairman

By Our Reporter

Chairman, Akwa United Football Club, elder Paul Bassey says he was not impressed when he heard how Nigeria Football Federation planned to share the FIFA $500,000 Relief Funds.

According to him, he was more disappointed with the NFF distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Lagos adding that those equipment should have been given to clubs instead.

"When i saw the picture of the NFF presenting face masks and other personal protective equipment to Lagos, i said, they could have sent it to clubs." He told Channels TV monitored by BSNSports.com.ng.

"When i heard how the the NFF want to share the money, I was very very sad and distressed,” said Paul Bassey.

He said the clubs need help as they groan under the weight of the economic stress that comes with the COVID-19.

“I thought the money is because of this period and for the 20 teams in the Nigeria Professional Football League as the teams need help now, let me paint a scenario for you on the average you need nothing less than two million nairas to prosecutive a match whether you travel by air or by road

Paul Bassey told Channels TV Sports.

“Thank God that the Governors are sponsoring the team’s now because no individual can do that, right now we are paying salaries, we are not owing our players but for how long can we be doing when the players are doing nothing, the club really need help, it’s now that we need the help”. The veteran journalist stressed.

The NFF Executive Committee
The Nigeria Football Federation rose from its executive meeting last Thursday and informed the public that the FIFA relief fund will be used to pay management and Staff salaries, men’s league, women’s league, referees’ development training, National Teams (including boys and girls’ youth teams), office operations, renovations and furnishing of Bauchi NFF/FIFA Technical Centre.

As part of FIFA program 2.0, the world football governing doled out five hundred thousand naira to it’s member association as relief fund to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 on the running of domestic football in their respective countries