The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LMC

  • BOKO HARAM: LMC moves Elkanemi/Dolphins game

    BOKO HARAM: LMC moves Elkanemi/Dolphins game

    The League Management Company, LMC have moved the game between Elkanemi and Dolphins by 24 hours.

    General Manager of Dolphins, Dumbo Awanen said on Tuesday, that after deliberations and talking on phone, they have agreed to travel to Maiduguri by road tomorrow.

    “We spoke and the Gombe State Police Commissioner, who agreed to give us an escort to Maiduguri. We leave on Wednesday morning,” Awanen said.

    Answering why the club settled on the police and not the army to escort them into the town, Awanen simply said, “We are satisfied with the security arrangements.”

    The General Manager also said the players and officials in the traveling party are also at ease and have accepted the decision of the management and the LMC.

    “The players will train on Tuesday evening, we have told them we are here on a mission. It is our job and we have no choice but to do it.”

  • NPFL now ends October 20

    NPFL now ends October 20

    The League Management Company (LMC) has announced that the Nigeria league will now end on October 20 against the earlier date of October 13.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the LMC effected changes in the earlier released amended fixtures which were necessitated by the decisions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) organising and disciplinary committee (O and D) on various cases arising from league games.

    A statement from the office of the LMC chief operating officer, Salihu Abubakar, reads: “In view of the appeals received from some of the clubs on the decisions of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and the need for us to have smooth ending of the season, matches of the Glo Premier League are now to be played as follows – Matches of Week 35 will now be played on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 with Week 36 matches slated to be played on Saturday, October 12. Week 37 matches will hold on Wednesday, October 16, and the season-ending matches of Week 38 will be decided on Sunday, October 20.

    “The new schedules took into consideration the Super Eagles World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, which has been scheduled for October 13 to free the day for Nigerians to focus on the game.”

    Enyimba, who has already clichéd the Federation Cup, lead the 20-team table with 58 points from 34 matches.

    The top two teams will represent Nigeria at next year’s CAF Champions League, while the third-placed club will feature in the Confederation Cup.

     

  • Anyansi hails NFF, LMC ruling

    Anyansi hails NFF, LMC ruling

    Enyimba Fc Chairman Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu has commended the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) and the League Management company( LMC ) for their ruling to finally award 3 points and 3 goals to Enyimba after their Fracas against Kano Pillars in a week 31 NPFL game played in Kano.

    The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday reversed the decision of the League Management Company to replay the Kano Pillars vs Enyimba

    week 31 game in Lagos, handing maximum points and three goals to the Aba based outfit.

    The People’s elephant chairman in an interview with futaa.com expressed delight over the decision of the NFF disciplinary body.

    ”This is a good development in the league, the NFF and LMC really need to be commended, we deserved the points we finally got because we were molested in Kano, and the rule clearly states it clear.

    “We have always been peaceful whenever we play our matches, and its surprising that some clubs will support hooliganism and Fanaticism. Ayansi stated.

    Anyansi called on the NFF and LMC to device means of making the league more favourable.

    “Our league is an interesting one, and we can even make it better if all hands are on deck and if appropriate decisions are being taken. And that teams who play well should always get points even if they are playing away from home.

    Enyimba who now sit comfortably on top of the league table having received maximum points and three goals will take on relegation threatened 3SC this weekend in a week 35 NPFL fixture.

  • …Accuse LMC of victimisation

    Nigeria Premier League side, Shooting Stars of Ibadan have accused the League Management Committee (LMC) of being partial to the point of victimisation in their handling of matters that involve them.

    The Ibadan side outlined their grievances in a lengthy release which was made available to Futaa.com late on Thursday.

    A part of the release reads:

    “It is rather surprising that 12 days after our protest to the LMC over the unprovoked, life threatening attack suffered by Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Adedapo Lam-Adesina and Shooting Stars cameraman, Mr. Abdulahi Oni in the hands of Sunshine Stars fans at the Akure township stadium on Sunday September 8 2013, during the week 30 fixture which was not concluded,and seven days after the hearing of the case by LMC no decision has been made public.

    “The manner of silence of the LMC on this case and Shooting Stars past experience with the body has further cast doubt on the sincerity of the LMC on this matter especially as one of their own (Mike Idoko) was indicted in Shooting Stars protest letter.

    “It is on record that LMC have never hidden their hatred for Shooting Stars as demonstrated in how they handled cases involving the club.

    “The Emmanuel Daniel transfer saga involving Shooting Stars and Rangers readily comes to mind: While LMC called Rangers and Warri Wolves together to resolve the Sunday Mba transfer case, it was not the case with Shooting Stars/Rangers as LMC unilaterally decided against Shooting Stars.

    “The LMC hatred for our club and double standard practised in Shooting Stars cases, came to fore again with this latest issue:

    “Ever before hearing from parties involved,the LMC announced the award of three points to Sunshine Stars and further docked Shooting Stars three points with additional fine of three million naira citing section 4.2 of the NPL rule.

    “The LMC have never done this in similar cases i e. Akwa United/Warri Wolves case, Kwara United/Warri Wolves case and most recently Kano Pillars/Enyimba case.

    “LMC therefore need to convince the whole world as to the reason they have chosen a different path on this case. They will have to prove too that they are not deliberately taking sides with one of their members who is heavily indicted in the protest.”

  • Anyansi thumbs up LMC for Glo league’s competitiveness

    Anyansi thumbs up LMC for Glo league’s competitiveness

    Chairman of Enyimba International FC, Felix Anyansi has saluted League Management Company (LMC) for playing a key role in giving the Nigeria Professional Football League a facelift.

    In a chat with Goal, the supremo of the two-time CAF Champions League winners was full of praises for the board, describing their performance as impressive.

    “For a very long time, we haven’t gotten this kind of situation where about five teams are in contention for the league title even with less than eight matches to go. That shows that the standard of Nigeria league has risen. In fact, there is progress. Besides, every team wants to win and that makes it more challenging,” Anyansi said.

    Anyansi, in a personal evaluation of the season, said that the Nigeria league has achieved much to be appreciated since Irabor took charge as the chairman of the LMC.

    “Nduka Irabor’s LMC has done pretty well in administration. He has brought prestige and restored confidence to the league and I want to appeal to people not to destroy but improve on this little progress,” he concluded.

  • LMC REPLAY ORDER: Eyimba fans cry over verdict

    LMC REPLAY ORDER: Eyimba fans cry over verdict

    Enyimba fans have described as unfortunate the decision by the League Management Company (LMC) to have the botched League game between the former CAF Champions League winners and Kano side replayed in Lagos.

    The fans who spoke with SportingLife moments before Wednesday’s Globacom Premier League tie against Wikki Tourists stressed they are not too happy with the replay orders coming out of the League managers.

    “This is a bias decision, what is the LMC even talking about? Why will it be against us that they will come up with this decision when the law of the LMC states that 3 points and 3 goals should be awarded to us after the fans Violence, this is injustice,” a disgruntled Enyimba fan who simply gave his name as Ekene fumed.

    Speaking in similar vein another Enyimba supporter, Madukanaya said: “You see why we keep saying that Nigerian Premier League is full of Abracadabra, the more you look, the less you see. How will Nduka Irabor (LMC chairman) come up with such decisions?, we were treated very badly in Kano, our players were beaten, our cameraman was beaten blue black, what else do they want us to say?,” he queried.

    Another People’s Elephant fan, Ekene said: “I’m tired of this LMC people, sometimes they make decision to only favour some teams, it’s highly political, is it because it has happened to a Northern team? Clubs in the South East have fallen victims of heavy fines and some even ordered to play behind closed doors, but you can see the decision they have taken, they know that we (Enyimba Fc) will win the league, and they are trying to deny us the opportunity, but we will not allow that happen, that’s why we are the People’s Elephant,” he added.

    The LMC have ordered Enyimba and Pillars to replay their Week 31 fixture at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

  • NPFL: Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    NPFL: Pillars, Enyimba to replay in Lagos

    The Nigeria football authorities have ordered a replay of a Week 31 game between Kano Pillars and Enyimba in Lagos.

    The game, which was abandoned after crowd problem at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, will now be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    League Management Company (LMC) top official Salihu Ibrahim told MTNFootball.com that LMC has taken a decision on the game.

    “Decision has been taken over the abandoned Pillars, Enyimba match, it will be replayed in Lagos.”

    The LMC Twitter handle further disclosed that the replay will be for 90 minutes and that Pillars had been fined five million Naira.

    Because of the crowd trouble, Pillars will now play its remaining home games in Kaduna on order of LMC.

     

     

  • LMC fines 3SC N3m, Sunshine get full points

    LMC fines 3SC N3m, Sunshine get full points

    In its preliminary ruling on the abandoned Week 30 Glo Premier League match in Akure, the League Management Company (LMC) has indicted Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), fined it N3m and ducked 3 points from already accrued points for abandoning the match against Sunshine Stars in Akure on Sunday, September 8.

    LMC announced the decision in a letter to the Management of the two Clubs and said the findings were based on the official match reports which did not support the claims of 3SC. The letter signed by the Chief Operating Officer of LMC, Salihu Abubakar cited relevant articles of the Regulation guiding the conduct of the Glo Premier League and subsequently invited some persons for further hearing on Friday, September 13 at the Abuja National Stadium.

    In the letter, the LMC quoted exhaustively from the rule books and noted that “Official match reports on the above match indicated that Shooting Stars refused to come out for the second half citing physical assault on the Oyo State Sports Commissioner and their Cameraman as reasons.

    “However, nothing in the reports corroborate the claims of Shooting Stars. The LMC is therefore satisfied that the Shooting Stars deliberately abandoned the game”.

    In applying the sanctions, the LMC said it was relying on articles 4.2 (2) and 4.2 (5) to fine 3SC the sum of N3m and deducting three points from already accrued points while Sunshine Stars have been awarded 3 points and 3 goals.

    According to the letter, ” the action of 3SC is therefore a contravention of Article 4.2 (2) which states that ‘ any Club that refuses to continue with a game for a period of five minutes in a match or till the expiration of full time of either half of the game or walks-off the pitch shall be liable to a fine of N3m only payable before the next match. In addition, 3 points shall be deducted from already accrued points of the Club and also 3 points and 3 goals shall be credited to the opponent”.

    To further support the preliminary ruling, the LMC also cited Article 4.2 (5) which states “where a Club refuses to play a match on the ground of inadequate security and the Match Officials are satisfied with the security arrangement, Article 4.2 (2) shall apply”.

    “Therefore, in line with Article 4.2 (2) and 4.2(5) of the Regulations guiding the conduct of the Glo Premier League, the match has been awarded to Sunshine Stars, 3 points and 3 goals. Shooting Stars is also to pay a fine of N3m for refusing to continue the match and 3 points will be deducted from the already accrued points of 3SC”, the ruling stated.

    It, however added that the sanctions are without prejudice to any further sanctions that may be decided by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in line with provisions of its statutes.

    The LMC also said it will continue investigations into the matter and has directed officials of Shooting Stars, Sunshine Stars, Match Commissioner, Center Referee, Ondo State FA Chairman and 3SC player, Gbolahan Salami and the Club’s Cameraman to appear before a panel at the Abuja National Stadium at 10am on Friday, September 13.

  • LMC slaps Kwara United with N5m fine

    •Team banished to Abuja 

    The League management Company LMC has come out with heavy sanctions on Kwara United football club with a banishment to Abuja and to replay their abandoned week 29 match against Warri Wolves in Abuja on Thursday.

    This punishment came up as a result of fans unruly behaviour and an assault on line-man who was beaten at the stadium after the first half which ended goaless.

    In addition to the punishment, Kwara United are to pay a whopping sum of N5m to the LMC before the replay on Thursday or lose 3 goals, and 3 points to the Seasiders. And also, Kwara State stadium in Ilorin has been closed to all fans till the end of the season.

  • Mixed reactions trail LMC’s TV contract

    Mixed reactions have continued to trail the 34 million dollars (N5.4 billion) TV broadcast rights contract between the League Management Company (LMC) and South African-based cable TV station, Super Sport.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that while some stakeholders described the contract as a step in the right direction, others felt it might keep spectators away from the stadium.

    The LMC had on Aug. 19 signed an agreement for Super Sport to transmit all domestic league matches to Nigerian viewers with effect from 2015 to 2019.

    James Peters, Assistant Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said the step was commendable.

    “We need to applaud them and the football house because it is an innovation to what has not been happening before. But my fear is that if they start televising the matches, we might continue to lose more football fans in the stadium. All in all, it is good for Nigeria football to be televised worldwide,’’ Peters said.

    Proprietor of CAS Football Academy, Abimbola Samuel, said the contract would only achieve its set purpose if the league was re-branded to feature talented players.

    “I have not yet seen the terms of contract, but with one of the reasons they gave that they want to take people back to the stadium, it is a two-way sword. If you remember, in the 70s and 80s, people went to stadium even when the match was shown on television. Nobody wants to watch it on television but live because there are individual players that people want to see,’’ Samuel said.

    He said: “I think they can only achieve their purpose only when we go back to the drawing board and harness the talents we have across the country.’’

    “By then, people will go back to the stadium as we used to have,’’ the former Assistant, U-20 national team coach, said.

    In his reaction, coach of Aleyita Football Club, Jacob Oyekale, expressed optimism that the decision would transform Nigeria league if it was well packaged.

    “The issue is just like a coin that has two faces and you have to weigh the issue from both angles. Now that they have signed a contract with Super Sport, by the time they watch players on television, that will attract them to go to the stand. `This is because the reason why the English Premier League (EPL), Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A have followers is because they are televised.’’

    According to him, there is still a large number of attendance at the stadium because they have packaged the leagues well. `There is a modus operandi of selling the league and this is the mode that the LMC is trying to sell itself now,’’ Oyekale said.

    He expressed optimism that if the matches were televised, discovery of talents would be easier for the national team coaches.

    “I am sure that by the time fans watch one or two matches, if what they see in the television is attractive and appealing, they will be drawn to the stands. And before you know it, the good old days of Shooting Stars, Leventis United, Ranchers Bees and so on will return to our league. With that, we will begin to harness talents like Segun Odegbami, Henry Nwosu and even Stephen Keshi,’’ he said.