PFAN set for peace talk with new NFF board

Not ready for a prolonged legal action, the newly-elected board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is said to have concluded plans to hold peace talk with Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Task Force.

The build up to the NFF elective congress in Benin City, Edo State, on September 30 was characterised by court actions.

While the PFAN secured a Federal High Court order in Abuja to stop the NFF election, an Appeal Court, also in Abuja, gave the football body the go-ahead to conduct the election as scheduled.

The outcome of the election in Benin City notwithstanding, the PFAN Task Force has threatened to proceed to the Supreme Court to press home its demands.

However, The Guardian learnt yesterday that a powerful group of stakeholders have brokered a peace talk between PFAN and the NFF board.

A source hinted, yesterday, that some executive members of the new NFF board have spoken with some key officials of PFAN to honour the peace talk.

“They (PFAN and NFF) have agreed to meet on a round table for peace to reign in our football,” the source stated. Contacted yesterday, an official of PFAN said: “Yes, they are reaching out to us on the need to have a peace talk. It shows the new board is ready to do things differently from the Amaju Pinnick former board. But they (NFF) must be ready to listen to us. I know we won’t get all the things we are demanding, but they must be ready to make amendments on the statute and give us equal representation.

“We have to enter an agreement that will be favourable to ex-players on the board. Our position in PFAN is very clear. We are not troublemakers, as some people try to portray us. I am sure Nigerian football will be better in the long run if the NFF listens to us,”