The parent body of All Nigerian Football Players Union, ANFPU has identified and recognized laudable efforts of two sports philanthropists, Honorable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantriki and Barrister Paul Edeh in youth empowerment and grassroot football development, onwardnews24.com can report.

The players’ union recognized the duo with a special awards of excellence to commend both Honorable Mailantriki and Barrister Odeh for their commitments and contributions to sports in the downtrodden.

At the award reception held in Abuja on Wednesday 31st of August, 2022, President of the Union, Abdul Sule described both men as very important individuals to football and humanity.

Sule noted that Hon. Mailantriki and Barrister Odeh who have also been appointed as Patrons of the Players’ Union at the reception are among few citizens that have shown love and care for youths both in cash and kind.

“Our award recipients are very important persons in our society. They are men who spend their hard earned resources to support the youths and they have been very successful.

“Take example of Mailantriki, he has been doing this for years, he has been spending his money on the youths for years making sure that the players welfare are taken care of, making football very much easier for them. If others are doing part of what he is doing, we will harness the great talents we have in abundance.

“Are when we talking about Barrister Paul Edeh. He has been fantastic. He is taking care of young girls who had no hope and now he has given them hope and future. He has done so much for those girls to make sure they become who they are supposed to be. The future is bright for them and their families are happy.

“We as a football players union are equally happy and that’s why we felt it right and worthy to honour these men as a source of encouragement.

“Today, some of them are playing in the national teams. He organises international games in the country for them, bring teams from other parts of the continent.

“When someone gets a pat on the back for doing something, it’s an encouragement to do more. They are doing all this without government assistance and yet they have continued to forge ahead. It’s not because they are very rich but because they have the interest of the youth at heart. It’s very amazing.”

Abdul Sule who is a retired Super Eagles player recommended that duo fors national and international recognition as their contributions to the development of grassroots football in the country cannot be overemphasized just as he assured them of the Players Union’s supports in all their programs.

Honorable Khamisu Mailantriki is the financier of Mailtantarki FC who recently won both the Dana Cup in Denmark and Norway Invitational Youth Cup. He is also known for various kind of youth empowerment in Gombe State and FCT.

Barrister Paul Odeh has a keen interest in developing girl child and has been doing that through football. It was his love to give a life and figure for girls that made him established Naija Ratels and Honey Badgers Women’s Football Team. He has seen the team excelling well in Nigerian Women’s Football Leagues.
Barrister Odeh is also the BrainBehind a prestigious preseason tournament tagged Ratels Cup that has been helpful to prepare women’s teams in Nigeria for regular campaign.

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