The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nduka Irabor

  • Irabor urges clubs to imbibe professionalism

    Irabor urges clubs to imbibe professionalism

    Chairman of the League Management Company Nduka Irabor has hit out at Nigerian clubs urging them to be “more professional.”

    Two Nigerian clubs, Enyimba International and league champions Kano Pillars, crashed out in the early stages of the 2014 CAF Champions League while another club, Warri Wolves, also fell at the initial hurdle of the CAF Confederations Cup.

    Many blamed the failure of the clubs to progress to the latter stages of both competitions on the belated commencement of the 2013/14 Glo Premier League (GLO) season but Irabor argues that it is a “lame excuse”.

    “I have heard lame excuses about the league not starting on time as being responsible for our clubs not doing well on the continent. That’s not true.

    “Yes, the league started late. We (LMC) acknowledge that but also recall that the last winners of the CAF Champions League, Al Ahly of Egypt, had no league to play, yet they won the trophy.

    “The truth is that our clubs need to become more professional. Whether or not the league is going on, they need to find ways of engaging themselves,” he told supersport.com.

    The LMC chief added that the pre-season tournament organized in Abuja in January was aimed at helping the clubs get in shape for the competition.

    “We knew the players of the clubs may be rusty as a result of inactivity hence we organised the pre-season competition.

    “It’s unfortunate our clubs crashed out early but blaming that on the late kick-off of the league would be far from reality,” he said.

    Bayelsa United are the only Nigerian club still left standing in continental competition this season.

     

  • N150,000 minimum wage LMC gives clubs Tuesday deadline

    N150,000 minimum wage LMC gives clubs Tuesday deadline

    Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Nduka Irabor, has stated that there is no going back on the N150,000 minimum wage for players in the Glo Premier League this new season.

    Irabor warned that clubs that fail to meet comply with the requirement will be docked six goals and six points as punishment amongst other sanctions.

    “They have up to Tuesday to do registration and they say they’re not paying N150,000 per player, we will ask questions, but nobody is going to get away with it,” Irabor said.

    “It is mandatory, six points, six goals punishment await clubs that fail to meet these conditions. The clubs are supposed to earn some revenue, we might decide to withhold the revenue and impose further levies on clubs that are unable to do it.

    “We have to be financially solvent otherwise you just end up a season owing players from whom there is expectation of protection of their welfare by the League managers.

    “If you’re unable to pay your players, why should I pay you your N15m income when you’re already saying to me that you’re not going to be able to pay your players, so we might just withhold revenue coming to some of the clubs.”

     

  • LMC Chairman pays glowing tribute to the late Ojidoh

    Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Hon. Nduka Irabor has paid tribute to the late John Chukwuma Ojidoh and enjoined football administrators to emulate his virtues of selfless service and dedication in public service.

    J.C. Ojidoh, a Justice of Peace and most revered traditional chief in Illah, Delta State, died Monday night at the age of 87 and Irabor recalled his last encounter with the late former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee saying, “Pa JC Ojidoh was only 15 days ago offering prayers of leapfrogging to the peak of noble aspirations in all human endeavours in 2014”

    Ojidoh, a former Chairman of the Old Bendel State Football Association, retired School Principal, FIFA-badged Referee and football development advocate during his life time, also held several other key positions in sports including heading investigative panels that made insightful recommendations on developmental issues and also headed the very popular Pepsi League Awards panel from 1996 to 2001.

    The LMC Chairman said there is a lot to learn from the personal and professional lifestyle of the late icon of football administration who he described as “genteel and firm, at home with the old and the young “. The late Pa Ojidoh, incidentally hailed from the same town with Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles Manager and a former Super Eagles captain and Irabor recalled a recent encounter with him saying, “Pa JC Ojidoh, even in his age-induced feeble state was very mentally alert and laced most of his admonishments with sporting anecdotes one of which was his light hearted description of his feeble state as ‘doing extra time on wheelchair”.

    In a further eulogy to the late Ojidoh, Irabor declared “Pa JC Ojidoh was without an iota of doubt, Nigeria’s No. 1 football supporter. He had an inestimable repertoire of football history and administration he freely shared with those who sought him out and some of his thoughts were often shared with readers of one of the popular national newspapers”

    Irabor prayed for the repose of his soul saying “He was a most dignified Justice of Peace and without equivocation, Pa Ojidoh will be sorely missed by both those who knew him or read him. A Northern Star is gone. May you sojourn well and may the Almighty Lord grant you sweet repose in the great beyond.’

  • LMC sets aside N3.75m for pre-season tourney

    LMC sets aside N3.75m for pre-season tourney

    The Chairman of the League Management Committee (LMC) Nduka Irabor has revealed that N3.75 million would be shared by the four clubs that would participate in the 2013/2014 pre-season tournament that will hold between, January 24, 26 and 28 at the Abuja National Stadium.

    Nduka disclosed that the matches that will be played at 2pm and 4pm prompt will involve the four clubs that have qualified for the African continental competitions which includes League Champion Kano Pillars, Enyimba International, Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves.

    The LMC boss did the breakdown of the N3.75 prize money to be won by the four contesting clubs. “The winner will smile home with the prize award of N1.5 million while the runner-up would win a million naira and the third place winner will also pocket the sum of N750, 000. The LMC also have a package of N500, 000 for the fourth placed club’, Irabor disclosed.

    The pre-season tournament will also feature workshops for Club Managers, players, supporters clubs and medical officials.

  • NPFL: Clubs to provide bank guarantees

    The League Management Company (LMC) have outlined the conditions teams have to meet, to be licensed to participate in both NFF and CAF organised competitions next year.

    The chairman of the LMC, Hon Nduka Irabor, said that clubs are expected to amongst other criteria, provide a bank guarantee as an indication that they have the financial means to meet their obligations for the season.

    “It is important that we make the clarification that Clubs are not paying any money to the LMC but are to provide bank guarantees which will be a proof of their capacity to meet financial obligations throughout the season,” he said.

    He said when implemented, club licensing will guarantee that players are not exploited by unscrupulous persons as the set minimum wage will be enforced.

    “Some of the benefits that this will bring to clubs include the guaranteed supply of quality and well trained first squad players from the clubs’ youth development program required under the sporting criteria.

    “There will be improved facilities for players and improved stadium conditions for fans while providing attractive return on investments for commercial partners and investors.

    “The deadline of licensing has been set at December 31st, and teams are expected to have provided this before then.”

  • NPFL In fresh crisis as club owners sack League committee

    NPFL In fresh crisis as club owners sack League committee

    There is tension again in the Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL) as club owners have sacked the Nduka Irabor led league management committee (LMC), declaring the league management company as an illegal outfit and dissociated themselves from the said company.

    Acting chairman of the club owners, Mr Isaac Danladi announced this in Abuja at the end of an emergency meeting of premier league club owners.

    The club owners also mandated the executive secretary of the premier league, Mr Tunji Babalola to immediately take charge of the secretariat.

    They also ordered the mobilization of secretariat staff to all league venues to take control of activities pending the election of a substantive board for the league.

  • NPL awaits FG $1.3m grant

    NPL awaits FG $1.3m grant

    Doubts surround the March 9 start of the Nigeria league as it has yet to receive a 200 million Naira (about $1.3m) government bail out.

    A top official told MTNFootball.com: “We are yet to receive the grant government promised us to get the league off the ground and as a result we may not start the league on the day advertised.”

    The league needs cash to pay for referees’ indemnities and other logistical considerations.

    Chairman of an interim committee to run the league, Nduka Irabor, announced earlier this month that they have been promised a grant by government to get the new season going as sponsorship wranglings have persisted despite assurances these have been resolved.

    The 2011/2012 season ended in September, while the kick-off for the new season has been shifted severally.

    Last season was played without a title sponsor and clubs were forced to foot the indemnities of the referees.

    The complete fixtures for the new season have been compiled but without dates attached to the matches.

    The interim committee proposed an abridged league because of the several postponements but the clubs kicked against it, demanding for a full season.

    “An abridged league will mean an abridged budget for the clubs,” said a top official.