Lumumba blames league postponements on flawed structure

The start of the new season was fixed for October 23 but for inexplicable reasons, the league board again shifted it to the new date which has since generated resentment among football stakeholders. Investigations by Trustsports revealed that NPL is waiting and hoping fervently that on Monday, NFF will be left off the hook by […]

The start of the new season was fixed for October 23 but for inexplicable reasons, the league board again shifted it to the new date which has since generated resentment among football stakeholders.

Investigations by Trustsports revealed that NPL is waiting and hoping fervently that on Monday, NFF will be left off the hook by the Lagos High court and a referees appointment committee will be appointed by the newly elected NFF executive committee in time for the league to commence on October 30.

Speaking to Trustsports yesterday, the former member of the House of Representatives said the continued change in the date for the take off of the league is a clear indication that Nigerian football is bereft of a definite structure.

In addition, he said it does not make sense for the league to be held to ransom simply because of NFF which he said should have no business with appointment of referees for matches.

“If the league is being delayed because there is no NFF to constitute a referees appointment committee, then there is something fundamentally wrong. Appointment of referees shouldn’t be the responsibility of the NFF.

“Things like this happen because Nigerian football lacks structure. Things are done at the whims and caprices of certain individuals and this is not helping our football in anyway”.

Lumumba said the continued postponement of the league has serious marketing implications which nobody is talking about.

“It is wrong to keep shifting the league because it has serious marketing implications. It makes nonsense of the programmes of reputable organizations like Supersport that want to contribute to the growth of the league. In addition, it shows those running the league are not serious minded. The world will not take us serious again because it seems we do not know what we are doing”.

On the way forward, he advised that to avoid the ongoing hitches in the commencement of the league, NFF should be saddled with the responsibility of recruiting, training, grading and disciplining of referees only.

He said the Nigeria Premier League should be allowed to handle appointment of referees for matches using a modest referee’s appointment committee.

Lumumba maintained that while the NPL can go further to deal with organizing and disciplining of erring referees, the NFF can set up an appeals committee to treat issues that may be referred to it by the Nigeria Premier League.