The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NPL

  • AGM: Abuja to host NPL, clubs Aug. 29

    AGM: Abuja to host NPL, clubs Aug. 29

    Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Board and the 20 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clubs have scheduled the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Tuesday , August 29

    Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer, in a notice of the AGM to all the clubs explained that the date will allow for a very effective organisation of the season’s activities.

    The notice to the clubs also stated that the Draw Event for the 2023/24 season would still hold on the same date as the AGM in Abuja.

    Read Also: Super Eagles: ANFASSC unveils jerseys, tracksuits for Sept. AFCON qualifiers

    The clubs were reminded that players registration which commenced earlier will still continue and they were urged to use the available window before kick-off to complete the documentation process for their squad.

    This will be the first AGM between the clubs and the new NPL Board headed by Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye after their inauguration.

    The Board last week set up a Technical Committee for the selection of NPFL Team of the Month and ultimately an All-star team that would go on a tour of Spain at the instance of a top LaLiga club.

    Elegbeleye, while inaugurating the nine member committee remarked that it could help the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have a nucleus of the next CHAN Eagles side.

  • NPL: Abdullahi handed eight weeks match ban

    NPL: Abdullahi handed eight weeks match ban

     

     

    Referee, Dankano Abdullahi has been handed eight weeks match ban for poor officiating in the match between Remo Stars and Abia Warriors in Sagamu, Ogun state.

    In the same vein, Nkwocha, a female FIFA Referee of FCT Council was warned to live up to expectations or risk removal from the Panel of a Premier League Referees.  Nkwocha officiated  the Katsina Utd vs Gombe match in Katsina.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Nigeria Referees Association, (NRA) Sani Zubairu said the committee arrived at their decision   after a careful review of the video clips and match reports of all matches of the Referees Assessors.

    The  head of NFF Referees Unit  also  told all Premier League referees to be mindful of their decisions and actions before, during and after the game as the Committee would give appropriate sanctions to those found wanting in the course of discharging their duties.

    Abia Warriors have  also been charged for breaching  the NPFL Framework  and Rules in respect of

    their game  at Remo Stars on Sunday.The club has  48hours  not later  than January 25, 2017 to appeal or accept the sanctions imposed on them.

  • Enyimba hold on in NPL race

    Enyimba hold on in NPL race

    Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, played themselves back into contention in the Nigeria Premier League with a 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars yesterday.

    The Aba Elephants went into the match without a win in their previous two league games and on the verge of losing ground on the pacesetters.

    A vocal crowd, paved their way to the Stadium to cheer their darling team to victory.

    As early as the third minute, Enyimba had the chance to shoot ahead.

    From a quickly taken corner kick, Raphael Boumsong found Etor Daniel who turned and shot straight at goalkeeper Henry Ayodele.

    The pressure paid off ten minutes later when former Enugu Rangers left-back, Ugwu Uwadiegwu, ran to the byline and sent in a teasing cross. The goalkeeper failed to deal with it and Etor struck a left-footed volley.

    Etor, a former youth international gave the Akure Gunners problems with his direct runs. He released a long range shot on goal and Ayodele was at his best to deny him.

    Sunshine Stars boss Henry Abiodun showed ambition with the introduction of Kingsley Eduwo and Cletus Itodo made way for the former Gateway United forward at the beginning of the second half.

    Kadiri Ikhana also replied his opposite counterpart with Kingsley Sokari taking the place of Nzube Anaezemba after 49 minutes.

    The busy Ayodele was forced to make a fantastic save by Enyimba’s Okonkwo effort.

    But in the 90th minute, centre-back Jude Ebitogwa performed a Luis Suarez show, as he stopped Okonkwo’s header with his right hand and the centre referee pointed to the penalty spot.

    Markson Ojobo stepped up to score, thus Enyimba clinced a 2-0 victory and all three points.

    They moved up to thirty-two points, five behind Pillars, who are still on top after a well deserved 3-1 win at home to Giwa FC.

  • Baribote writes NFF, faults 15-year ban

    Embattled former chairman of( Nigerian Premier League NPL), Victor Rumson Baribote, has formally written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), over the 15-year ban slammed on him by the body, querying the modality used in pronouncing the ban.

    Although, Baribote insisted that he has not received any official correspondent from the NFF over his purported ban from all football related activities, he however said that he had to write an official letter to the federation after getting the report used in pronouncing the ban.

    In a letter dated October 25 bearing the NFF’s official reception stamp titled ‘Re: Report of the investigation committee of the Nigeria Football Federation against Rumson Victor Baribote in his petition to FIFA’ and made available to media at the weekend, erstwhile chairman of NPL questioned the report.

    He challenged the federation’s claim of impersonation and demanded for a proof. Part of the letter read: “In my several letters to FIFA, I stated that I am the duly elected chairman of NPL and was unduly removed from office, and ever since I have not acted in that capacity. Having stated this, if there is any prove to the contrary, I would like such document tendered.

    “In response to the second finding of the committee regarding the ownership of Nembe City FC, even the document tendered by the League Management Company (LMC) to the investigative committee which they relied upon, clearly stated that Rumson Victor Baribote is the President of Nembe City FC. The name Mrs. Baribote appeared neither on the management’s team nor in the incorporation of the club. If there is any document to the contrary, let them tender it for public view,” he noted.

    Deflating the claims on the report, Baribote further wrote: “The incorporation of the League Management Company Limited (LMC) which Aminu Maigari signed as one of the directors representing Nigeria Football Association (NFA). A body he claimed not to be in existence in affidavits deposed to by his lawyers and was tendered in court that NFA is different from NFF. Hence when you represent a body that is not in existence, you are only acting for yourself.

    “The LMC chairman had claimed that LMC derived its powers from the NFA and several documents, including the incorporation of the LMC Limited, clearly stated that NFA empowers them. So, one can’t explain the technicalities or the rationale behind LMC giving the sum of N25 million to NFF, a body Maigari claims is not the same as NFA and does not even exit.

    “In my petition, I did not state anything regarding the sum of N25 million, I rather delved into the incorporation of LMC since Maigari claims NFA is not in existence. It then means that he acted in his personal capacity and for his personal benefit by representing NFA, a body not in existence and not the same with the NFF of which he was elected as president,” he stated.

     

  • Nigerian clubs must stop road trips – Eguma

    Nigerian clubs must stop road trips – Eguma

    Manager of the Nigeria Premier League side Dolphins, Stanley Eguma, believes the car crash suffered by Kano Pillars gaffer, Baba Ganaru, on Thursday highlighted the dangers players and officials of clubs campaigning in the domestic league face as a result of consistent road trips.

    Teams in the NPL honour games by road irrespective of the distances they have to cover and Eguma is shocked at the practice, supersport.com reports.

    “It is no secret that most roads in Nigeria are riddled with risks and difficulties. I don’t understand why all teams travel by road despite the dangers they face,” Eguma told supersport.com.

    The gaffer then took the time to discuss his plans on getting things up to speed in the NPL in that regard.

    “With effective marketing and branding, we can get corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to partner with our cubs.

    “These sponsors would make the monies available and things will change.

    “The current situation does not allow teams to effectively express themselves, “he added.

     

  • Mba inspired NPL stars – Ayo Saka

    Mba inspired NPL stars – Ayo Saka

    Super Eagles invitee, Ayo Saka, has said Sunday Mba’s African Nations Cup heroics have given “fresh hopes” to players in the domestic league.

    Mba from the Nigeria league scored championship-defining goals including the championship winner against Burkina Faso.

    “What Mba achieved in South Africa has given players in the local league fresh hope,” Saka told MTNFootball.com

    “’Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi has given us a chance in his team and we will not disappoint him.”

    Enyimba midfielder Saka has already been capped at full international and Olympic levels and he said he will make the squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya on March 23.

    .

     

  • 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.

     

  • NPL changes name

    THE interim management committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has effected a change of nomenclature for the Nigerian top flight and the league will now be referred to as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPLF).

    The draws for the 2012/13 NPFL were held on Friday in Abuja with Enugu Rangers playing host to Enyimba FC in the standout game.The first round of Matches are expected to be played on march 9.

    The IMC led by Nduka Irabor had wanted the season to be an abridged one but the clubs kicked against the plan and the 2012/13 campaign will now be played in its regular format with midweek games set to be accommodated into the calendar.

  • NPL changes name

    NPL changes name

    The interim management committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has effected a change of nomenclature for the Nigerian top flight and the league will now be referred to as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPLF).

    The draws for the 2012/13 NPFL were held on Friday in Abuja with Enugu Rangers playing host to Enyimba FC in the standout game, Supersport.com reports.

    The first round of matches would be played on March 9.

    Champions, Kano Pillars travel to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi where the team will face Wikki Tourists while things are expected to get heated up at the Illorin Township stadium with the first derby of the season between Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC and Kwara United.

    Cup kings, Heartland welcome newly promoted Nembe City to the the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri in a fascinating fixture while Sharks take on Warri Wolves at the Sharks FC stadium in a game that is expected to be evenly contested.

    Two other newly-promoted clubs; Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors go toe to toe at the Lafia township stadium, Lafia.

    Three-time champions, Dolphins embark on the short trip from Port Harcourt to Uyo to face Akwa United while last season’s CAF champions’ league semi finalists, Sunshine Stars will take on Kaduna United.

     

     

  • NFF rejects Baribote’s sack

    NFF rejects Baribote’s sack

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation has rejected the decision of club bosses to sack the Victor Baribote-led Nigeria Premier League board, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The NFF said the decision to dissolve the NPL board did not comply with the statutes of the NPL.

    Baribote has maintained he was not aware of the decision to sack him and that the club chairmen did not adhere to the statutes of the NPL before taking the decision.

    In a communiqué issued after an emergency NFF executive committee meeting in Abuja on Friday, the body ordered the NPL to stage their congress on December 11 in Abuja.

    The NFF therefore appointed three of their executives, Emeka Inyama, Sulaiman Yahaya Kwande and Shehu Adamu, to attend Tuesday’s congress as observers.

    On Wednesday, the chairmen of at least 16 clubs passed a vote of no confidence on Baribote and his executives.

    They sacked the board and in their place appointed a six-man interim committee led by Mike Idoko.