AFPU bemoans continued exploitation of local players

WINDHOEK, 16 AUG  – Namibia Football Players Union (NAFPU) said the continued ‘abuse’ of local football players by the league and clubs is worrying and the labour movement will soon be cracking the whip at it.
Speaking at media briefing yesterday, the Secretary General (SG) of NAFPU Olsen Kahiriri cautioned that the union will change its approach to the Namibia Premier League (NPL) and its affiliates.
“There is a surprise coming for clubs and administrators as Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPro) Division Africa, Confederation of African Football and International Federation of Association Football are coming up with clear directives in September to compel associations to establish structures,” he said.
He added that the war against player exploitation as well as the realisation of shared prosperity amongst the members cannot take place in the absence of guiding structures and polices.
His organisation, he stressed, will thus remain democratic, vibrant and militant as it seek solutions to what he termed ‘an abusive relationship’ between clubs and players which he claimed is created by football administrators.
Kahiriri stated that some of the challenges faced by Namibian players with the NPL include player contracts being terminated without just cause, and contracts having unlawful clauses that do not comply with Namibia, the Namibia Football Association, and Fédération Internationale de Football Association laws.
“We have players being forced to sign contracts at the back of the cars, teams playing double headers over weekends, players not being registered with the Social Security Commission and players earning slavery salaries,” he added.
This, he explained, is unacceptable and the union will approach the equity commission to force clubs to register its payers for social security.
Meanwhile Kahiriri took the opportunity to launch the voting by local players for the FIFPro World 11.
The vote by local players is a process in which players vote for the best players in the world.
“We have engaged clubs and as soon as they start their preseason training we will approach them and make sure they allow us to conduct the voting by the players,” he added.
This voting process will have to be finalised on 24 August and will be sent to Amsterdam in the Netherlands for verification.
NAMPA