Rangers Team Manager Amobi Ezeaku says Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs must ‘embrace professionalism’ in their day-to-day operations, especially with regards to the safety and protection of players’ lives.
Last week, Rangers presented Life Insurance benefits worth Twenty Million naira (N20m) to the family of their late striker Ifeanyi George, who died alongside two others, in a ghastly auto crash in March on his way to Lagos.
The gesture from Rangers was triggered by an agreement the Enugu-based club have with Premier Brokers Nig. Ltd, who released a N20m Premium for the late footballer.
Just like Rangers, Ezeaku wants other NPFL sides to partner with insurance companies to create safety nets for their players against severe injuries and death, which is part of the CAF Club Licensing regulations.
“The message is clear; we must all strive to embrace professionalism,” he said in a radio interview. “Other clubs should try as much as possible to reach out to insurance companies around. They should make sure they do these things the proper way, so that when they (the Insurance companies) pay the Premium, they will benefit.
“Recall also that when Ifeanyi Egwim got injured in 2016, till this moment, he was treated and he still receives his salary. And these things must be done with all transparency, with all professionalism.
“So, my message is simple: NPFL clubs must strive, even within all odds, to embrace professionalism,” he concluded.
