PAUL BASSEY SPEAKS ON THE EFFICACY OF FORMAL EDUCATION ACQUISITION IN THE PROFESSION OF FOOTBALL
The Chairman of Akwa United F.C has described football as a profession and if not managed properly becomes a waste.
"It is a profession just like other professions and persons should know that. A young man who wants to play football must be disciplined and then most importantly you must get some level of education. I find out that most of those footballers who did not go to school are more difficult and are most tenable to discipline. Even when a coach talks to them they don't absorb fast enough. If you are lucky, you play for ten years, after that your legs can't carry you anymore. Injury can stop you before then. So you must be able to have a fallback. That is what some education will do to you".
"Some of them earn as much as 400 to 600 thousand. Put some structures in place and for those who are married,set up a family".
"There's a lot that's why I am saying that for me being a chairman of a club is just more than playing on the field of play. Those boys, I am responsible for them like a Father. I have about 42 players who I must guide through life in one way or the other and make them realize that today they are footballers,what happens tomorrow and so on", he said.
The member of the NFF technical committee further describes his four months tenure so far as tough but fine.
"It's being tough but we thank God for everything. It's a big school with me as the head but so far it's fine"..
"I want to thank the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellence Udom Emmanuel, I want to thank my principal the commissioner of sports Mr Monday Uko who has been very supportive. Running a Football club in Nigeria is a baptism for me. I keep on repeating this, your judge is by the performance of the team. This is one job where the 11 boys on the field of play determines whether you are a good chairman or a bad chairman but we are happy with what is happening now though we need to do better".
He further added "If you look at Akwa United in the past,we are fine but we believe we can be better and for me four months will not be enough to judge me and put in place all the plans I have, off the field plans such as discipline,players welfare,management service and so on. It's a whole lot. Some reforms are being structured. It has to be done. I don't believe that flagging a football club is playing football every weekend,going to the field whether you win or lose and then you move on. There should be some structures in place. They should have a credible club house,welfare facilities,transport, the benefits of an organized setup and then finally it should be a business. I mean at this level, football should be generating so much money", He added.
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