Gusau bemoans exodus of NPFL players to other African countries

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has described as disturbing the recent mass exodus of players in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to other leagues in Africa.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the NPFL, on Tuesday, the NFF president said the worrisome trend will be halted only if the league is made more attractive.

Gusau, therefore, called on the NPFL board to look for more sponsors to bring money into the league so that clubs would also have enough money to pay attractive salaries to their players.

“I want to express appreciation to the board of the NPFL for a job well done. I also want to appreciate GTI for their support.

“But the NPFL should do more to attract sponsors to bring more money into the league. When more money comes in, the clubs will also have more money.

“The issue of our players running away from the league must stop. If the clubs get more money to pay the players very well, they won’t run to go and play in any African country.

“They will stop moving away, going to play in Sudan or Tanzania. When there is more money for the clubs, it will stop the players from even running to Benin Republic,” he said.

Gusau reiterated that once there is enough money in the league, players’ migration to other leagues would be curtailed.