The Nigerian Football Players Union (NFPU) has honoured the duo of Barrister Paul Edeh, the proprietor of Nigeria Women Premier League side, Naija Ratels and Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, owner of Mailantarki Care Academy, in recognition of their overwhelming contributions to the development of the game at the grassroots.
NFPU President Abdul Sule described the duo as very important persons in the society, saying they are among the very few Nigerians who care for the youth and can go any length to spend their money to give them a future.
Sule who spoke at the award ceremony in honour of the two philanthropists, said; “Our awardees are very important persons in our society. They are men who spend their hard earned resources to support the youths and they have been very successful.
“Take example of Mailantarki, he has been doing this for years, he has been spending his money on the youths for years making sure that the players welfare are taken care of, making football very much easier for them. If others are doing part of what he is doing, we will harness the great talents we have in abundance.
“Are we talking about Barrister Paul Edeh. He has been fantastic. He is taking care of young girls who had no hope and now he has given them hope and a future.
“He has done so much for those girls to make sure they become who they are supposed to be. The future is bright for them and their families are happy. We as football players union are equally happy and that’s why we felt it right and worthy to honour these men as a source of encouragement. Today some of them are playing in the national teams. He organises international games in the country for them, bringing teams from other parts of the continent.
“When someone gets a part on the back for doing something, it’s an encouragement to do more. They are doing all this without government assistance and yet they have continued to forge ahead. It’s not because they are very rich but because they have the interest of the youth at heart. It’s very amazing.”
The ex-international noted further that the duo needs to be given both national and international recognition, saying their contributions to the development of grassroots football in the country cannot be quantified.
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