Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) legend Victor Ezeji has advised players in the domestic league to always hire the services of agents or lawyers while signing contracts to avoid the incessant cases of unpaid wages.

Ezeji’s advice is coming on the heels of reports of unpaid financial entitlements at several NPFL sides, including his former club Heartland, Katsina United and FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

The ex-Enyimba, Rivers United (then Dolphins) and Sunshine Stars striker played 20 trophy-laden seasons in the NPFL without being owed by any of his former clubs.

While admonishing NPFL players to always ensure they sign ‘personal’ contracts with clubs, the University of Port Harcourt accounting graduate noted that his level of education also contributed immensely to the career decisions he made.

“Maybe, if I wasn’t educated, probably, I wouldn’t have toed the line that I toed as at when I was playing,” he said in an interview on Today FM in Port Harcourt.

“But the truth still remains that these players they fail to listen. The truth remains that everybody came from wherever they came from, and you have to sign your personal contract, it’s not a group team. There was no day they assembled all of you to sign the same contract.

“And we’ve always advised them to look for an intermediary, or look for an agent, or look for a lawyer. The most you can do is part with 10%, it won’t cause you any harm.”

Nonetheless, the NPFL Players Advisor informed that the players usually don’t like spending money on such issues.

He added: “But players, the way we are, we are very difficult people when it comes to parting with money. That is the truth.”