The burial of former Nigeria international player, Isaac Promise during the week has come and gone, but not without trailing issues on the absence of notable members of the country’s football community at the event.
Reacting quickly to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF), has debunked claims that its absence at the burial of the former Nigeria youth team captain was deliberate.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the players union, Comrade Austin Popo, it stated that the lingering disagreements in late player’s family was one of the reasons the union was absent at the event.
He explains; “Apart from the new union policy of no registration, no representation, the union officials led by its General Secretary, and some exco members of its FCT council had earlier visited his family home in Kubwa, Abuja.
” However, union refused to dabble into crises between the extended family members and Promise’ immediate family, that is his wife and children, because such is not within our scope and areas of interest.”
The statement added that union promised to send representatives and also assist in the burial, if it was contacted. Unfortunately, the Union never received any information or invitation to the burial.
” Therefore, it is not true that the union deliberately abstained from the burial.And if not for anything, we respect and would have honoured his status as a former captain of our national team. Yes, we know he was not a card carrying member of the union, however, we would have honoured him with our presence if the union was informed of the burial plans and arrangements by the family,” Popo remarked.
It is on record that the union had in recent past honoured late players, like Chinedu Udoji, Uzama Douglas, Izu Joseph and other former players, as well as, current footballers.
Conclusively, the statement highlighted the importance of all Nigerian professional footballers home and diaspora to register as card carrying members of the union.