My Government will pay the salaries of local professional footballers – Alabi

Sports News from Friday, January 25, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-01-25

Professor Joshua Alabi, flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NEC), promised to set up a pay structure for professional footballers playing in the Premier League and lower divisions, when he won the top job leader of the CND and became president.

He added that he would also ensure that athletes are enrolled in the social security program to ensure a comfortable retirement.

Joshua Alabi made the revelation Thursday on Eyewitness News.

The remuneration of footballers has become a subject of great concern, as some players are paid only 200 GH ¢ per month.

Some footballers have also always called for a payment system that allows them to benefit from social security schemes in the event of retirement.

According to Alabi, if he wins the NDC flagship elections, he will be one of the main interests of his government. He is also elected president of the country in the 2020 elections.

According to him, under this agreement, local footballers who are paid by the state will be required to pay 5% of their monthly salary to the state when they go out of the country for to practice their profession.

"All Premier Division and Division 1 club players will be paid by the government. Before paying a player, his club should have registered, then the player and the government will conclude an agreement stating that at any time he gets a contract, 5% of the monthly salary must be paid to our fund for sportsmen. So, if we have 5% of Asamoah Gyan 's salary each month, Michael Essien of Muntari, we will generate more than the amount we will spend and we could even use the excess money to go in football and basketball academies, says Alabi.

He added that his government would also build boxing academies to train young people who, according to him, are wasting their talent and money fighting on the streets.

"You see young boys fighting in the street, I think it is a waste of talent and money. You create a boxing academy, we will build them professionally and they move. At some point, the amount we generate will be greater than what we spend, and when the players are no longer in normal life, we could use the same fund as the pension fund for them, "added Alabi.