The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NPFL

  • Enyimba will win NPFL – Amapakabo

    Enyimba will win NPFL – Amapakabo

    Enugu Rangers head coach, Imama Amapakabo, has said six-time Nigerian champions, Enyimba, will emerge champions of the ongoing 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    The People’s Elephant leads the 20-team Nigerian top flight with 58 points from 31 matches, supersport.com reports.

    Amapakabo said the Aba-based club is the favourite to win an unprecedented seventh NPFL title.

    “Enyimba is right now strongly dictating the pace at the top spot on the league table.

    “I think the club is currently in pole position to win the league title for the seventh time.

    “Though the remaining matches on the calendar will be quite crucial if the club will go ahead to win the trophy, ” the former Enyimba coach told supersport.com.

     

  • NPFL club officials complete LMC sponsored workshop

    NPFL club officials complete LMC sponsored workshop

    Top Management officials of the 20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs completed another  capacity building workshop at the Lagos Business School (LBS) faculty of the Pan African University in Lagos.

    This is the third of such training for the club officials. It lasted two days and had the club Media officers in attendance while a rich pool of resource persons including  Larry Izamoje, Chairman and CEO of Sports Radio, Brila Fm, Chicago-based Sports Marketing Professional, Idorenyin Uyoe and Dele Odugbemi, the Managing Director of Media Share Ltd, amongst others.

    Chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko who led the NPFL team to the workshop said the programmes  were in line with the activity chart of the LMC and described the course contents as enriching.

    “Last month, we sponsored nine officials of the clubs in the first SportsPro and Lagos Business School workshop and this time, instead of taking them in batches again, we decided to bring everybody so they can stay on the same page in club management best practices. All these training constitute part of the 2013/15 season’s activities designed to run alongside the fixtures and I am happy we have implemented all that was programmed,” said Dikko.

    Chairman of the Club Managers Forum, Danladi Isaac said they couldn’t have wished for a better programme and praised the LMC for following up on the vision to improve club administration through high level management courses for the operators.

    “There are lots of things that are merely seen from the surface and at these workshops, we have been made to understand not just the practical steps to domesticate some theories and practices we have read in journals and seen on television. We are excited and hope to take the learning back to our clubs. The LMC must be commended for making it possible,” Isaac said.

    The second edition of the SportsPro Nigeria workshop’s  theme was Sports Tourism, Content  and Media Development . It featured presentations ranging from  New Media and Sports Development, delivered by Odugbemi, Sports and Global Media Management in a local context  by Izamoje, The Media in the Sports Industry was presented by Gary Rathbone, the founder of Sports News Africa.

    Other presentations were The Role of the Sports Industry on Destination Development and Marketing by Uyoe, while Abimbola Ilo made a presentation on Sports Volunteering, Potentials for Social Change and Image building with the last presentation on Developing Tourism Destinations and the Sports Tourism Industry, the Nigerian Perspective made by Obinna Ekezie, a former USA National Basketball Association (NBA) player and founder of online ticketing company, Wakanow.com.

  • Lobi won’t take NPFL draw – Agbaji

    Lobi won’t take NPFL draw – Agbaji

    Lobi Stars captain and central defender, Anthony Agbaji has said his side will be unhappy with a draw at Nasarawa United.

    The Pride of Benue will be the guests of the Solid Miners in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) match day 32 clash at the Lafia Township Stadium.

    Agbaji said his side’s uncomfortable position on the league log makes the clash a must win if they are to stay alive at the end of the season.

    “The Nasarawa United vs Lobi Stars clash is a local derby expected to be always tough. We are going for the whole three points at stake as a  draw will be unacceptable given our shaky and uncomfortable position on the league table.

    “We are not happy drawing the past two home matches, which we deserved to pocket the whole points. We are looking forward to claiming three points on the road and the clash at Nasarawa United happens to be the target.

    “Nasarawa United are in-form , so we are heading to Lafia to make a bold statement of our potency,” said Agbaji to supersport.com.

    The Makurdi outfit are 14th on the log on 37 points from  a possible 93 in the 31-week old top flight.

  • ‘Taraba off NPFL base for good’

    ‘Taraba off NPFL base for good’

    FC Taraba attacking midfielder, Stephen Adah has said his side have left for good the bottom of the top flight log.

    The Jalingo outfit are 19th on the 20-team elite league log on 26 points three points above bottom placed side, Bayelsa United.

    Adah said his side are doing everything within their power to earn more decent results in the remaining matches on the season’s calendar that will guarantee their status quo in the top flight next season.

    “Of course, we have left the base for good, right now the concern is how to pick quality points in the remaining matches to ease ourselves completely from the danger zone.

    “None of us was comfortable with our hitherto bottom position which was not good for our reputation despite the financial challenges.

    “The survival battle is on and does not call for celebration or relaxation until the last game on the season’s calendar.

    “We strongly believe the side will escape relegation at the end of the ongoing league season,” said the former Enugu Rangers playmaker to supersport.com.

    Adah is confident his side will not come back empty-handed from the clash at FC Ifeanyiubah in match day 28 clash in Nnewi on Sunday.

    “FC Ifeanyiubah will be under pressure both to impress and perform after the massive defeat at Enyimba.

    “That will suit our match plan to wait for an opening to launch the sucker punch that will further compound their plight.

    “I believe we will get something decent from the clash to improve our steady climb out from the base,” said the Akwa United star.

     

  • Eagles released for NPFL games

    Eagles released for NPFL games

    Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Sunday Oliseh has temporarily closed the team’s camp in Abuja.

    The coach has been working with 23 domestically-based players in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania on September 4.

    He has now sent the players on break to team up with their respective Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs ahead of match day 25 fixtures this weekend.

    Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye told supersport.com that the players are expected to return to camp on Monday, August 24.

    “The coach has released the boys from camp today and they are expected to play for their clubs this weekend before returning to camp on Monday,” he said on Friday.

    Meanwhile, the team played a test game against Abuja Football College on Thursday at the Abuja National Stadium winning 1-0.

    Gbolahan Salami scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot.

  • Wikki admit NPFL difficulty

    Wikki admit NPFL difficulty

    Wikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has admitted his side are experiencing some difficulties at the moment.

    The newcomers have been without a win in their last four consecutive matches in the ongoing season.

    The Bauchi-based side will host Nasarawa United in the Nigeria Professional Football League match day 22 clash on Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium (ATBS), Bauchi.

    Ibrahim said his side have decided to fight hard to end the winless streak against the Solid Miners on Sunday.

    “Of course, playing four matches in a row without a win is not the dream or desire of any side.

    “I must confess that the situation is a source of worry to us, we are really worried over the experience. Though some of the stated matches like the away clash at 3SC was a game we have no reason to draw not to talk of losing the whole three points.

    “The officiating officials were quite fair to both sides in the first half but practically turned against us in the later stage of the game. However, we have told ourselves that the time has come for us to raise our game to end the winless streak.

    “And we have decided to break the four-match winless jinx against Nasarawa United on Sunday. Yes, it’s nothing short of outright victory that will be acceptable to us at least to improve our rating on the log,” said Ibrahim to supersport.com.

    Wikki Tourists are fourth on the league log on 34 points five points behind leaders, Sunshine Stars.

  • NPFL mid-season review in numbers

    NPFL mid-season review in numbers

    The Nigeria Professional Football League has been ace this 2015 season not necessarily because we are seeing fans return to the various centres across the country, or the number of away wins on show but the fact that there are so many talking points to keep fans on their toes during the hiatus.
    After 19 match days, Sunshine Stars lead the pack with 36 points just ahead of a resurgent Enyimba of Aba on goals difference.
    Such is the competition this season that just 5 points separate first from fifth while at the rung of the table, bar FC Taraba who are firmly rooted at the bottom, only five points separate 15th placed team from the 19th.
    The indices surely tell us we are going to have an exciting second half of the season when hostilities resume on August 2.
    Our in house NPFL aficionado Andrew Randa takes a look back at the first half of the season in numbers.
    1- The position Sunshine Stars occupy at the end of the first half of the season
    7- Number of coaches who have lost their jobs in the first round
    9- Longest unbeaten run of matches unbeaten. Enyimba FC & Giwa FC hold that record
    9- Number of matches Sharks have drawn from 19 games. They’ve won three and lost 7. Draw specialists
    10-Number of weeks Sunshine Stars have been top of the table from 19 match days
    11- Number of goals top scorers Bright Ejike (Heartland) and Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars) have scored
    11- Number of matches leaders Sunshine Stars have won in 19 match days.
    15- Highest number of away points won by a team in the first round. Enyimba hold that record
    17- Longest winless streak. That unsavoury honor goes to FC Taraba
    19- Number of away wins in the first half of the season
    20- Number, occupied by FC Taraba at the base of the NPFL log
    23- Number of points separating leaders Sunshine Stars from bottom placed FC Taraba at the half way stage.
    27-Number of points FC IfeanyiUbah, Kano Pillars and Rangers International of Enugu are on after 19 games. Only goal difference separate them.
    28- Number of goals basement side FC Taraba have conceded in the first stanza
    30- Highest number of goals scored by a team in the first half of the season. Leaders Sunshine Stars and Heartland FC share the honors.

  • NFF, NPFL plan to storm Governors’ Forum

    NFF, NPFL plan to storm Governors’ Forum

    Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League Shehu Dikko has revealed that the Nigeria elite league led by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has concluded plans to storm the Governors Forum of Nigeria to make presentations to the governors in Nigeria how they can help the league and the clubs owned by the state governments.

    The elite league boss disclosed this in a joint parley with the NFF at a media briefing held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

    “We have arrangement to make presentations to the Governor’s forum as a group because that is how to solve a lot of problems these clubs may be having (since majority of the clubs are owned by the states). We didn’t want to make it public until we have done it. ‘We already have consultations with some governors and they are eager to help. The question is not about the premier league clubs alone. If a state doesn’t have a club in the Nigeria Professional Football League such state will surely have a club in either the Nigeria National League or the Nigeria Nationwide League.

    Dikko assured that the discussions with the governors would be based on “the Nigeria Football Federation will have to make a presentation to the governors at the Forum based on these are the things we believe the clubs should do and this is how the clubs can go about it to achieve success. “We need to work as a group and it is a long plan to bring private sector to invest more in Nigerian leagues. We are going to do that. We will even bring along with us some clubs when we are going to the meeting with the Governors’ Forum so that they can explain the kind of problems they go through. If you know the kind of issues some clubs go through as club chairmen regardless of what you feel about them you will also give them some credits.

    “For instance if a state governor has not paid his workers for six to eight months so what will the club say and the clubs are owned by these states. Until when we get to a point in our leagues where we can do away the states (in involvement and sponsorships) we have no choice than to agree on some models. The state governments can provide some structures, get some interested companies within the states to invest in the clubs. They can do what will call club membership where fans pay fees to be members to help such club or clubs. A real lot could be done within a state. These are part of what will present and discuss with the governors”, Dikko.

  • Bright Ejike tops NPFL’s goals chart

    Bright Ejike tops NPFL’s goals chart

    Heartland forward Bright Ejike has shot to the top of the Nigerian league goals’ chart after he netted his eighth goal against former club Sharks in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    The former Nigeria youth international is now ahead of Abia Warriors striker Chisom Chikatara, who remains on seven goals.

    Sunshine Stars Tunde Adeniji, Giwa’s Shuaibu Ibrahim and his teammate Ocheme Edoh have scored six goals each.

    Ibrahim Mustapha (El-Kanemi) and Esosa Igbinoba (Nasarawa United) have scored five goals each.

    Nigerian league all-time top scorer Mfon Udoh, who is expected back in training with Enyimba this week, leads a clutch of players on four goals, namely Usman Mohammed (Taraba), Ubong Ekpai (Pillars), Yusuf Jaiyeoba (Sharks), Junior Ajayi (3SC), Godwin Obaje (Wikki), Segun Alebiosu

    (Kwara), Gbolahan Salami (Wolves) and Adamu Mohammed (Pillars).

  • NPFL attends Inaugural World Leagues Forum

    NPFL attends Inaugural World Leagues Forum

    • LMC calls for redistribution of income derived from Nigeria

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was among the 24 leading Professional League organisations from across the world of football that met in London on Tuesday, April 28 for the first ever Global Leagues Forum.

    This historic meeting brought together Presidents, Chairmen, Chief Executives and General Secretaries from Professional Leagues that represent over 1100 of the world’s top Clubs.

    Professional Leagues from Bolivia, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, USA, as well as the European Professional Football Leagues Association, were represented. Players of clubs in these leagues provided just under 90 per cent of the players who took part in the FIFA World Cup 2014.

    In the NPFL delegation including Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Nduka Irabor, made a strong case for the redistribution of incomes derived by the developed Leagues from the Nigerian territory.

    The discussion between the leaders of Professional League football was wide ranging and focussed on strategies for the successful development of Professional League football in each of their countries. These focussed on relationships with players and fans in particular, and Professional League business models.

    Dikko said he was very hopeful that some of the contacts made would soon begin to yield dividend particularly in the areas of human capacity development and technical overhaul of the game.

    “The LMC Is absolutely delighted to be part of this inaugural meeting as a pioneer member of the forum. This clearly signifies that the LMC is making huge progress and in the right direction to be so recognized on a global scale.

    “The contacts made will surely impact positively on our efforts to improve on the fortune of the NPFL”, Dikko said.

    According to Renata Affonso, the Planning and Projects Manager of the Conference, it is recognised that whilst all Professional Leagues are different, the issues they face are the same as each looks to develop the professional game in their country. The World Leagues Forum thus provided a platform for sharing of experiences and approaches, with established Leagues committing to assisting developing Leagues across the world.

    The Leagues agree that wherever a common view on issues can be achieved, Leagues should speak with a single voice, as leading members of the global football family. A focus of the next meeting in the USA (19-20 October 2015) will be on formalising a new way of working more closely together.