Ghanaian football great, Ibrahim Sunday, has urged all professional footballers plying their trade in the country to become members of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG).
The ex-Asante Kotoko playmaker made this rallying call moments after receiving the CAF African Legends award at the recently held Aiteo CAF Awards Night at the Accra International Conference Centre.
In an exclusive interview with pfag.com.gh Sunday said “all professional footballers must join the PFAG, as it represents the hope of a brighter future for them. In our ongoing efforts to achieve a higher level of professionalism in the domestic game, we should all come together under the unifying umbrella of the PFAG to fight for our due. Remember that if one fights alone, victory is not assured, but when there is a players’ union to represent all the players, it offers the best chance to get our rights upheld.’
The former Black Stars midfielder boasts of an outstanding career playing for Kotoko as they won the African Cup of Champions in 1970, and establishing himself as a key player for the Ghanaian national team. He won the African Footballer of the Year Award in 1971 and also coached his beloved Asante Kotoko to continental glory in 1983.
Sunday also encouraged all Ghanaian players to work very hard, and remain committed and dedicated as they vie to achieve top honours for the country and themselves. He also advised that due to the extremely competitive nature of the modern game, Ghanaian players needed to work above themselves to win such coveted awards as the CAF player of the year accolade.
Finally, he praised the PFAG for their efforts at helping to secure the future of footballers with the introduction of the Life After Football Policy, saying: “the players need to invest some part of their current wealth so as to secure a comfortable life after their careers end. Today they are young, but before you know it, their careers are over and they will need to have something solid to sustain them into old age”
The PFAG salutes Ibrahim Sunday for all his exploits and believes the CAF Legend award is indeed a well merited recognition for all his services to the sport.