Nduka Irabor, chairman of the League Management Company, says they are putting up new measures to address the trend of poor welfare of players among teams in the upcoming 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
Irabor, who assured of improved organisation and competitive field when the new NPFL season resumes on March 7, also urged football-loving Nigerians to show more support in helping to grow the domestic league.
“I’m happy that during the break I was getting messages that people can’t wait for the league to resume,” Irabor told media after the draws of the NPFL fixtures for the new season.
“We are hoping to give Nigerians something better, but just urge Nigerians themselves to come out more than they have been doing before to support the league.
“I can assure you of something, If you pay people well, consistently and at when due they will give you optimum performance,” he enthused.
“I’m sure that the new measures we will introduce will take care of players’ welfare. If it works which I think it will, you will see a much more improved standard of play.
“This season for instance, we are going to insist on the performance guide but where that contraption does not work, we will deduct points from teams that fail to pay their players with in the space of 60 days.
“You cannot owe players more than three days, if you do we will deduct three points from you,” he continued.
The former lawmaker said the exit of the league’s talented players to sometimes obscure leagues abroad is a good development considering the improved standard of living of players.
“Why would I, it is labour migration. You are producing stars to go and earn more money. Until we are in the position of paying them as well as they earn outside, we are happy to see them go, it is no loss at all.
“We want them to earn more money. Don’t forget the economic effect is more than throw the ball around and kicking it. We want those participating to enhance or improve their standard of living,” he concluded.
In the opening games of the 2014/15 NPFL season, league champions Kano Pillars will begin their chase for a fourth straight title at Heartland in Owerri while runners up Enyimba will start their bid to reclaim the title in Aba against Akwa United.
