…. as NPFL goes on a three-week break for General Elections and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) is discussing with DStv to return NPFL on cable TV, Supersport channels.
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin will be playing host to former CAF champions, Enyimba Football Club, on Saturday, 19 February, 2023 in the week nine engagement before going on mid season break.
Also, the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will proceed on a three-week break at the halfway mark of the abridged league format season after this weekend’s match day nine matches.
The break would permit the 2022/2022 NPFL clubs to refresh and enable players and officials to ecercise their civil rights in the 2023 General Elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25 and March 11 2023.
Davidson Owumi, Head of Operations of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) stated: “Yes, I can confirm that the NPFL will go on break for three weeks after the match day nine games. We’ll resume after the Nigerian elections for the final stage of the abridged league.
“We are putting every effort to ensure that the league drives itself. It’s been hectic, but I think we have done well and if we get more sponsors and partners, the clubs and other stakeholders will benefit from it and the league will progress to the level we envisage.
“The IMC is discussing with DStv to return NPFL on cable TV, Supersport channels. I can confirm to you that we are making progress and very soon Nigerians and the world will be able to view more matches and attract more interest in the league.”
On the 2022/2023 NPFL clubs getting a balance of the N250 million from the IMC, Owumi said: “I cannot say with all certainty how much and when money will be paid to the clubs. It depends greatly on the extent of investment brought in by sponsors. It could even be double of that, but it depends on what comes in.”
Owumi encouraged critics to be objective in assessing and analysing the NPFL and the IMC, emphasizing that objective criticism will motivate the clubs, players, match officials and league managers to perform better.
Further, Owumi cautioned that critics should not personalise issues, noting that even the best leagues in the world are not faultless.
