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Sports News of Wednesday, 28 December 2022

Source: www.punchng.com

Stakeholders divided over NPFL abridged format

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The drama preceding the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League continues to unfold with heated arguments, the latest being stakeholders airing divergent views over the format of the incoming season.

After a meeting with the clubs’ representatives last Wednesday, the Interim Management Committee of the NPFL, led by Gbenga Elegbeleye, had proposed an abridged league format, but the club owners, in a new twist, kicked against the format, labelling it as a misrepresentation of their agreement at the meeting.

Chairman of the club owners, Isaac Danladi in a statement said, “Consequently, I wish to further inform members and state categorically that this is not in consonance with the joint decision of clubs and IMC at the last meeting of Wednesday 21st Dec 2022 whereby it was agreed inter-alia that the abridged league proposed by IMC and the straight league, which was overwhelmingly proposed by the clubs, would be communicated to NFF by the IMC for further necessary action.

“We wish to categorically dissociate ourselves with the circular and state firmly that clubs would not be part of the draws on 28th December 2022, neither would we participate in an abridged league.”

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League, Rumson Baribote, tagged the move by the club owners as mischievous.

“The NFF, who regulates football in the country, has mandated a body to organise the league with terms of reference, most importantly to have an improved league. I feel the IMC was democratic enough to have convened a meeting with the clubs for them to make their input.

“So, with due respect to the club chairmen, they cannot be partakers and the organisers of the league at the same time,” Baribote told The PUNCH.

Veteran sports journalist and administrator, Godwin Enahkena, also threw his weight behind the proposal of the IMC for an abridged league.

“Realistically, that is the only thing we can do right now, play an abridged league. Whoever is saying let’s not play abridged league is looking for government money, outside of that, I know we are not ready,” Enakhena said.

An NPFL player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “It’s pathetic that at this stage we are still talking about format, although looking at the timing and what the IMC had proposed I think it aligns. I think the abridged league is what suits the NPFL right now, no two ways about it.”

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Sports, Sixtus Omokhagbon, advocated a regular season.

“An abridged league is very delicate. Let the league be wholesome, let’s go a stretch.”

Meanwhile, the IMC has insisted on going ahead with the format as advised by the NFF and has scheduled the draw ahead of the new season for Wednesday December 28 (today) in Abuja, while the club owners have suggested to converge on Asaba, Delta State for a separate meeting to review the matter.