…as NFF boss reads riot act to match officials
Ahead of Sunday, January 8, 2023 kick-off of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NPFL has presented a total sum of N200 million to the 20 clubsides that will compete in the season.
Each of the clubs received N10 million as a form of financial support ahead of the abridged football season scheduled to start this weekend.
The benefitting clubs include defending champions Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt, Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, Rangers International of Enugu, and Plateau United of Jos.
Others are Kwara United of Ilorin, Gombe United, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Abia Warriors of Umuahia, Bendel Insurance of Benin, and Bayelsa United of Yenagoa.
There are also Akwa United of Uyo, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, Nasarawa United of Lafia, Niger Tornadoes of Minna, Sunshine Stars of Akure, Enyimba International of Aba, Remo Stars of Ikenne, Dakkada FC of Uyo, Doma United of Gombe, and Katsina United FC.
Speaking at the cheque presentation in Abuja, the IMC Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that the development was a fulfilment of the league organising body’s promise.
“We came into being with a promise to improve the state of the competition. We are here now to do as promised, giving the participating clubs the sum of N10 million each to help kickstart the season,” Elegbeleye said.
“I can promise here again that we are ready to give some money again as the league goes on, in order to help the clubs cushion the financial burden of playing in the competition,” he said.
He also said that winners of the competition would receive the sum of N100 million as prize money at the end of the season.
In his remarks during the cheque presentation, president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, said the development was in line with his plan for Nigerian football.
“Before I came in as NFF president, I had said we must get the league right in order to move forward in the game as a country.
“So, the issue of having a premier league that is professionally run is important, and that is what we are seeing with the IMC now. This is praiseworthy,” he said.
Gusau used the opportunity to reiterate NFF’s full support for the IMC, saying the question of playing the 2022/2023 season in an abridged format is a matter of necessity.
“We need to start the league so as to end it early and start the new season by August. This way, the players will have time to rest and prepare well for the next season and do better on the continent,” Gusau said.
“Luckily for us, IMC has been doing well and the sponsors are set to back them. So, let us give them all the support needed to succeed.
“That is why I will be in Uyo on Sunday to watch the star match of the Match Day 1 fixtures —- between Akwa United and Bendel Insurance,” he said.
Already, the 20 participating clubs have been divided into two groups of 10 teams each. The season will kick off on Sunday with five matches in each of the two groups.
Meanwhile, NFF chief Gusau has read the riot act to match commissioners and referees, warning that it would no longer be business as usual for them.
Gusau, who gave the warning while inaugurating the referees and match commissioners’ committees inside the NFF Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, said any person who failed to meet the high standards already put in place would be summarily ejected and sanctioned appropriately.
“We have been diligent and statute-compliant in the selection of the membership of both the Referees Committee and the Match Commissioners’ Committees, and therefore, we expect them to do their job with the highest level of integrity, passion, commitment and sense of duty,” Gusau said.
“The onus is on the committees as we will keenly monitor the performances of your appointees and be dispassionate in our assessment. Anyone found wanting will be thrown out without ceremony, and be visited with further sanctions. The NFF is determined to change the narrative in the league and there is no going back. Please help us to have a new league that all stakeholders will be proud of,” he said.
Chairman of the match commissioners committee and NFF board member, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, assured that his committee would apply transparency and integrity in its work, while also focusing its searchlight on its appointees in order to weed out those who fail to align with the new dance steps.
On her part, FIFA retired referee, Mrs Faith Irabor, who chairs the referees committee, affirmed that the narrative would definitely change from the umpires’ side as NFF moves to implement the highest standards of probity in match officiating.
