The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LMC

  • LMC vows not to register clubs indebted to players, coaches for new season

    LMC vows not to register clubs indebted to players, coaches for new season

    The League Management Company (LMC) says it will not register clubs indebted to their players and coaches for the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Season.

    Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of LMC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the defaulting clubs would not be registered until they demonstrate clean bill of health.

    To this end, LMC has given all clubs up to February 10 to settle all backlogs of entitlements of players and coaches arising from the 2014/2015 season. He explained that LMC has the mandate of the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure that a club with liabilities doesn’t participate in the new season.

    “We have received a letter signed by the General Secretary himself,” Abubakar said. “It’s the NFF position which tallies with our position because the players are the main actors in this game and if we don’t take care of their welfare, the whole game will crash.

    “So, we are serious about it; we have a list of eight clubs that was sent to us by the NFF and between now and when we finish registration, if they don’t pay up, they will not be registered.

    “I assure you we will enforce that. You have to understand that there is an intention behind sanctions and you do it to be able to get results from these clubs; what is the result in this case? We want the players to be paid.

    “At the last count, we have had about 16 clubs that were able to meet up with our requirements, so, I think it is a good starting point and you have to realise that also in the regulations, the main actor is the NFF not the LMC.

    “Whatever we are doing is just to try to muscle the clubs to make the payment.

    “The players’ arbitration committee is with the NFF; all the regulations are under the NFF. It is the NFF that will enforce and now that they have told us to enforce, it is in our hands, we will enforce.’’

    He said the 2015/2016 NPFL season would now kick off on February 21 to enable league players settle down after some of them participated in the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament.

    It said failure to do such, the clubs must provide an acceptable financial guarantee instruments to secure the payments as well as tentative payment plan from the clubs’ proprietors.

    LMC has since set a deadline of Feb. 15 for the issuance of the NFF Club Licensing Certificate as directed by CAF to clubs that have met the minimum criteria for participation in the 2015/2016 NPFL season.

    The first round of the NPFL Super 4 will hold in Kaduna from Jan. 20 to Jan. 24 between Enyimba of Aba, Warri Wolves, Nasarrawa United and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

    The second round of the Super 4 tournament, which is for the top four finishers in the 2014/2015 league season, will be played in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from Feb. 1 to Feb 5.

    Ilorin, Kaduna, Uyo and Abuja were the four cities which indicated interest to host the Super 4 tournament.

  • LMC confirm season kick-off February 2,ends October 2

    LMC confirm season kick-off February 2,ends October 2

    • Schedules two Super 4 tournaments in Kaduna , Uyo
    • Licensing documentation ends February 10

    The League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday announced a comprehensive calendar of activities for the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season providing two rounds of Super 4 tournaments and a start date of February 21 for the regular season which will end on October 2.

    Other core activities such as the LMC Annual General Meeting (AGM) with participating clubs, pre-season and mid-season seminars/capacity development programmes, stadium inspections and club licensing core processes  have all been detailed in the calendar.

    In releasing the calendar of activities, the LMC said it has been drawn up based on usual consultations with our participating clubs and proposed fixtures of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Federation Cup.

    “We have, following various consultations, been properly guided to streamline the activities of the NPFL, NFF Federations Cup as well as CAF competition dates” the LMC stated.

    It further explained that “provision has been made for the NFF Club Licensing compliance and cut-off dates inserted to ensure compliance by clubs as required by CAF.”

    The first round of the NPFL Super 4 will hold in Kaduna from January 20 to 24 while the second round will be played in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from February 1 to 5.

    “The rationale for the two rounds of NPFL Super 4 is to get our clubs that will be playing on the continent to play at least six competitive games from the two tournaments to sufficiently prime them to reasonable match fitness. The tournament will as usual be played on a round-robbing structure”. The preliminary rounds of the CAF Club competitions will hold on the weekend of February 12 to 14.

    On the implementation of the club licensing requirements, the LMC said that all clubs have been given a cut-off date of February 10 to ensure the settlement of any overdue payments to players and coaches arising from the 2014/15 season and or provide an acceptable financial guarantee instruments to secure the payments as well as tentative payment plan from the club’s proprietors.

    LMC, as the NFF First Instant Body (FIB) on the management and operations of club licensing in Nigeria, has also set a deadline of February 15, for the issuance of the NFF Club licensing Certificate as directed by CAF to clubs that have met the minimum criteria for participation in the 2016 NPFL Season.

  • Super Four tournament gets January date

    Super Four tournament gets January date

    The League Management Company will stage the annual Super Four tournament to usher in the new football season from January 11 to 15 next year.

    However, a venue for the invitational tourney has yet to be decided, africanFootball.com reports.

    Nigeria champions Enyimba, runners-up Warri Wolves, third-placed Nasarawa United and Akwa United, who won the Confederation Cup, will feature in the competition which is aimed at preparing the clubs for their continental engagements next year.

    The 2015 tournament was expended to incorporate the Flying Eagles and the Olympic Team and it was won by the former with Taiwo Awoniyi picking the Most Valuable Player award.

  • CAF INTER CLUB COMPETITION: Nasarawa United call for support of NFF, LMC

    • Intensify preparation for CAF Confederation Cup

    Nasarawa United FC Chairman, Danladi Isaac has revealed that the support of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) for the Solid Miners and other three Nigerian clubs in the CAF Inter Club competitions would be crucial for their impressive performance.

    The Lafia side are making their second appearance in Africa after their cameo appearance in 2007 when they featured in the CAF Champions League before they dropped to the CAF Confederation Cup and later eliminated.

    Isaac told SportingLife that they were aware that they must be prepared to face the best the continent can produce as soon as they qualify for the continent and that their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round foes, Generation Foot of Senegal would be a hard nut to crack.

    He said Nasarawa United would be adequately ready and prepared before the February 12-14, 2016 first leg tie and that serious work has started over the repairs of the Lafia Township Stadium to meet the standard set by CAF for the hosting of continental games.

    Isaac also pleaded with the NFF and LMC to render the necessary support to all Nigerian teams on the continent so that there can be appreciable progression on the continent this term than it was in the last few years.

    He noted that issues regarding the technical crew has been done and dusted and that they have also intensified the build up to the next season including their stay on the continent so that the Solid Miners won’t be caught unprepared.

  • LMC GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND NFF STATUTES

    LMC GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND NFF STATUTES

    In recent times, there have been comments and articles questioning the place of League Management Company in NFF statutes. Some have even called upon the NFF Electoral Committee to conduct elections into the Board of ‘NPL’ just as they are organising elections into the lower leagues. Those championing this fault the institutionalisation of LMC within our football structures. In their opinion, LMC is an ‘illegal’ body, ‘not enshrined in the nation’s football laws’ and consequently, it cannot assume a position in the NFF Executive Committee.

    But all these smirk of ignorance. It is either these people are ignorant of the relevant documents domiciling LMC in our football laws or if they are aware, there must be some ulterior motive. A perusal of the LMC Supplementary Regulations (Governance structure) agreed with the Premier League clubs since September 6, 2013 and duly filed at CAC with CAC approval duly issued June 2, 2014 will suffice.

    It was established that the 20 Premier League clubs were involved in the process that gave birth to the approved governance structure in line with the requirements of Article 18 of the NFF Statutes. If one is talking about elections into the board of the elite league as being clamoured by the defunct NPL proponents, who will be the electorate at the election? Is it not the same 20 Premier League clubs chairmen? By unanimously endorsing that Governance structure and regulations before ultimately agreeing to the composition of the current leadership of the LMC, have they not cast their vote? If you are to conduct an election into the LMC or whatever board they deem fit, today, does it not also follow that they will vote for the same directors currently at the helms?

    Let it also be pointed out here that it was the agreement of all the Premier League clubs and LMC to adopt the English Premier League (EPL) model of managing the league while domesticating it to suit our peculiar environment. The September 6, 2013 meeting with the clubs was essentially to discuss and agree to the amendments required to domesticate the EPL model. But was it a wrong decision to do it the EPL way? We have all liked the organization of the EPL, was it a bad idea taking a cue from the most celebrated league in the world?

    After reaching an agreement as to the Governance structure/regulations, there was still the issue of NFF putting a seal on LMC and situating it in the statutes. Without this, LMC would have been illegal as some people are erroneously painting it. So, accordingly, the NFF Executive Committee (at its executive committee meeting of OCTOBER 8, 2014 in ABUJA) and the NFF CONGRESS (at its Congress of NOVEMBER 18, 2014 in LAGOS)  duly approved this Governance Structure pursuant to the powers granted them under the NFF STATUTES (ARTICLE 78 subsection 2 & 3) as well as FIFA statutes ( ARTICLE 17 and 18) to make regulations  and or approve regulations for the management of the domestic leagues, which requires that members can either be ELECTED and or APPOINTED through a fair and independent process.

    So for those who think membership of the NFF Executive Committee is only through an election, it is expedient to note that under Article 17 (2) of the FIFA statutes, Members (NFF EXCO) can either be elected or appointed but ‘through a fair and independent process’. This latter proviso in the FIFA statutes was consummated when the 20 Premier League clubs endorsed the Governance structure/regulations as well as the composition of LMC Board.

    The LMC Governance structure/regulations (as approved by the NFF Congress pursuant to Article 78 of NFF STATUTES) provides that ‘the LMC chairman automatically assumes the position as the 2nd VICE PRESIDENT of the NFF in line with NFF statutes and FIFA guidelines where the head of the elite league is automatically admitted as NFF 2nd Vice President’.  This has been the case since the elite league became independent in Nigeria some 10 years ago in 2005 and is duly captured in the LMC approved Governance structure.

    The likes of Chris Giwa could be excused because his club was not in the NPFL at the time the LMC Governance structure was endorsed by the 20 Premier League clubs but he should have asked questions. That is assuming he has not been privy to the outcome of LMC meetings thus far. He has been part of the LMC-organised NPFL for the past two seasons and hasn’t complained. In fact he had been praising LMC all through the season. Suddenly, Giwa FC loses to Nasarawa United on last match day and their proprietor no longer believes in the LMC.

    But the key question is; why now? Giwa is just one of those kicking against LMC. There are some others whose intentions could stretch beyond the LMC Governance structure and NFF Statutes. Why suddenly is there a battle for the soul of LMC? A few days ago, during the NFF and LMC briefing at the National Assembly, the honourable members dubbed LMC the ‘miracle workers’ and suggested the leadership of LMC should be giving National Honours for their achievements in changing Nigerian league positively. In doing this, they expressed amazement at the level of transformation noticed in the NPFL this season. They pledged to create the enabling environment to help LMC attain greater heights.

    Why can’t these LMC haters toe the line of these honourable members? It has come to our knowledge that certain people who had been feeding fat on the domestic league are not comfortable with the new order. There was a contract entered by NFL that enslaved the league. That deal has ran out its course and the LMC isn’t willing to do a renewal as it has nothing to do with it as the deal was with the defunct NFL. The deal was signed by the defunct NFL and even the LMC lacks the powers to discuss it talk less of any negotiations. So for the ‘deals men’ the tactic is, boot LMC out, re-instate NFL and renew the deal. That way, they will enslave the domestic league for a further five years. So you can now see that there is more to the LMC-must-be-destroyed crusade than meets the eye.

    The clubs, who are the biggest beneficiaries of the LMC era should know better. They should ask; how much are we earning under the current arrangement; how much did we earn in the past? Answers to these questions should task the relevant authorities. But as long as this ‘Pull LMC down’ project persists, the searchlight will be beamed on the real ‘rapists’ of our league and ‘looters’ of our collective wealth.

     

    • Nwankpa is an author and journalist.
  • Giwa threatens to oust LMC

    Giwa threatens to oust LMC

    There could be another round of controversy before the start of the next Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season as chairman of Giwa FC, Chris Giwa, has threatened that the League Management Company (LMC) cannot continue to run the league.

    Speaking to a local radio station, Giwa warned that elections must hold into the league board before the new season, insisting that the LMC has no stake in the league, and therefore cannot continue to run it.

    “We have to settle this issue (elections) before the league starts,” Giwa said in reference to having elections into the league board.

    “If they were able to survive it this year, it is just by chance and maybe because of the situation we found ourselves in this year.

    “But the season has come and gone and honestly this issue has got to be settled. You cannot manage something you don’t have a stake in; you have to be a shareholder.

    “The clubs should manage the league and the real owners of the league are these 20 clubs and certainly there should be elections and if there won’t be elections, there should be an agreement amongst the club owners, on who should manage their league,” Giwa said.

    The LMC was formed in 2013 to run the league for one year initially, following the controversy that engulfed the league then, under the leadership of Victor Baribote’s Nigeria Premier League.

  • LMC tasks clubs on players’ medical checks

    LMC tasks clubs on players’ medical checks

    The League Management Company (LMC) has expressed shock and sadness over the death of former Kano Pillars midfielder, Abdul Haruna.

    Haruna died on Sunday during a friendly game between Kano Professionals and a select amateur side in Kano.

    Chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko said he was saddened by the death of the midfielder who had also played for another Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Heartland.

    “We (LMC) are saddened by the loss of the player, Abdul Haruna and on behalf of the League Management Company, the 20 NPFL clubs and players, I wish to condole with the management and players of Kano Pillars on the untimely demise of one of their own. We pray for peaceful repose of his soul,” Dikko was quoted as saying on the official LMC website, www.npfl.ng.

    The LMC also urged clubs in the top-flight to embark on regular medical checks for their players “to prevent avoidable deaths.”

    “While we mourn the player, it is also pertinent that clubs undertake regular medical check-up on their players, especially using the FIFA Medical Commission recommended kits which were provided  by the LMC at the start of the season.

    “While death is inevitable, we must do all that is humanly possible on our part to manage the health of the players to prevent avoidable deaths,” he said.

    Bobsam Elejiko, Amir Angwe, Endurance Idahor, Samuel Okwaraji and Emmanuel Ogoli are some Nigerian players who have collapsed, unchallenged and died during football matches in the past.

  • LMC writes Taraba Govt over FC Taraba’s players salaries

    LMC writes Taraba Govt over FC Taraba’s players salaries

    A letter protesting the reported manhandling of players of FC Taraba by some soldiers attached to the  Government House in Jalingo has been sent to the Office of the Taraba State Governor by the League Management Company (LMC).

    FC Taraba players were at the Government House on Friday to press their demand for the payment of arrears of 11 months salary by the Management of the club owned by the Taraba State government. Soldiers on duty at the Government House were said to have assaulted the players who had barricaded the entrance  but the LMC in the letter said the soldiers conduct was unacceptable.

    The LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko began by offering assurances to players of FC Taraba and other clubs’ players facing challenges of receiving their financial entitlements from their respective clubs saying that “we are working to protect your interests to ensure that you are paid soonest but you are all advised to ensure that all your actions are at all times guided by the provisions of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Rules and Framework.” He said already, the engagement with the respective state governments whose clubs were owing players have started yielding desired results as some of the clubs have since started their players.

    In the letter to the Taraba State Government, Dikko reminded the government of their undertaking earlier in the season to pay all the outstanding entitlements of the players and expressed surprise that the promise was not kept even after the season had ended.

    The letter read: “The LMC received with dismay the report of the said assault on the players by the soldiers attached to the Government House. We consider it unacceptable and condemn this action by the soldiers in its totality”.

    The LMC Chairman further reminded the Taraba State Government that “it was on the strength of the undertaking to the LMC by the government in a letter dated September 25, 2015 with Reference No. GHJ/COS/S/3 and signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor and subsequent engagements which led to the commencement of some payments to the players that led to the suspension of sporting sanctions placed on the club for breaches of the Rules and Framework”.

    The LMC, therefore, reiterated that those sporting sanctions would be enforced should the club not provide evidence to prove that the players have received their entitlements. Dikko listed some of the sanctions to include “that all funds due to FC Taraba from the LMC would be withheld and used to commence payment to players on pro rata basis.

    “That there will be a transfer ban on FC Taraba, which means that the club will not be allowed to buy any new player until they have paid all outstanding dues to the current players.

    “That the LMC will seize all the revenues to be generated by FC Taraba from transfer of players as such revenue would be used to offset any outstanding debts due to the current players”.

    He wrote that “the LMC would wish to also remind the club that it may not be allowed to register as a club for the next season in any of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leagues until they have paid the players and or would start the season with  six points deduction”.

  • El-kanemi: LMC betrayed us

    El-kanemi: LMC betrayed us

      • Players stranded in Maiduguri, attacked by Boko Haram

    Players of El-kanemi Warriors on monday night revealed to Freekicknaija.com that they were fooled by the League Management Company (LMC) led by Shehu Dikko.

    The LMC is the body saddled with responsibilities of coordinating and organising the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Players of El-Kanemi Warriors are owed back-log of salaries and match bonuses of 2014-15 League season that came to a close last month.

    “LMC decieved us,” a close source who would prefer his name not to be mentioned told Freekicknaija.com.

    “After the last game of the season, we (the players) went home to join our loved ones like every other player in the Nigeria Premier League with no money to feed at home. Life has not been easy with anyone of us.

    “Last week, we were called by the Borno State government to come back to get our money but as I speak to you now nothing has happened. Some of us had to borrow money to come to Maiduguri, some where even attacked by Boko Haram on Saturday on their way to Maiduguri but thank God no life was lost. Why are they treating us like slaves? ” the player added.

    ” Today, being Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the Government House has told us they are not ready to pay us our money.

    “The players  are calling for help from the footballing world because the LMC abandoned us, all LMC did was to tell us  that they will stop us from playing if we abandon any match again like we did against FC IfeanyiUbah because we asked for our rights. The six points deduction LMC threatened is aimed at compelling the management to pay off its indebtedness to us, what happened. Did the LMC keep to their words?,” the player maintained.

    Efforts to reach a top management of the club (El-kanemi) proved abortive as at the time of going to press.

  • Glo congratulates Enyimba, commends LMC

    Glo congratulates Enyimba, commends LMC

    Next Generation Network and sponsor of the Glo Premier League, Globacom, has congratulated Enyimba Football Club of Aba for emerging champion of the 2014/2015 Glo Premier League season.

    The Aba Elephants, who drew goalless with Sunshine Stars FC of Akure on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos amassed 70 points from 38 matches to emerge champions. Enyimba, thus took over from Kano Pillars Football Club, which won the title for three consecutive seasons.

    Warri Wolves, Giwa FC of Jos and Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi also emerged second, third and fourth respectively while the quartet of Kwara United, Sharks of Port Harcourt, FC Taraba and Bayelsa United got relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday congratulated the players, coaches and management of Enyinmba FC for their hard work and determination which propelled the team from the middle of the table which it occupied for most part of the first stanza to winning the Glo Premier League title.

    The company admonished the team to make football loving Nigerians happy by going all out to win the next CAF African Champions League again like  they did back to back in 2003 and 2004.

    “We call on the management of Enyimba Football Club to start planning in earnest for the next CAF Champions League in order to perform brilliantly during the continental championship,” Globacom said.

    “We wish to congratulate the LMC for its outstanding organisation of the league. We urge them to keep the flag flying,” the statement added.

    “We also wish to congratulate the players, club officials, match officials and fans for their collective efforts that made the season  witness little or no hitches,” Globacom stated further.

    The company added: “We equally wish to praise the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) for creating the enabling environment that has led to a rise in the standard of our league.

    “This is the time to consolidate on the success achieved in the season and we look forward to stakeholders conducting a postmortem on the just concluded league with a view to working towards sustaining the achievements next season,” Globacom said.