…will draw more fans and sponsors, he says
…”I am happy with the results in which so many teams won on away ground.”
Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has rained commendations on referees who officiated the Nigeria Premier Football League Match Day-One fixtures.
Gusau further observed that credible and fair officiating will lift the image of the local league and attract fans and sponsors and thus grow the game.
The opening day of the 2022/23 NPFL season recorded four away wins.
Newcomers Bendel Insurance set the tone with a shocking 2-0 win against former champions Akwa United at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, while eight-time champions, Enyimba also defeated Nasarawa United 2-1 at the New Jos Stadium.
Niger Tornadoes ran out 2-0 winners against Wikki Tourists in Bauchi, while Abia Warriors stunned Rangers 2-0 in the Oriental derby.
The NFF President extolled the referees for their output which was reflected in the results and charged them to maintain credible officiating throughout the season.
“I am happy with the results in which so many teams won on away ground, as well as the reports we received from most of the centres concerning the performance of the referees,” Gusau told thenff.com.
“I want to commend the NFF Referees Committee for putting their right foot forward from the beginning and also charge the referees themselves to sustain credible output going forward. We are determined to ensure that so many things about the League change for the better and we will not relent in our efforts.”
