NPL returns but fears linger
The 2012/2013 season ended October 13 last year and the league organisers attempted to start the 2013/2014 season almost immediately but that did not work out as the clubs pleaded for more time for them to recover from the strain of the previous season.Consequently, the League Management Company allowed the clubs to take a breather […]
The 2012/2013 season ended October 13 last year and the league organisers attempted to start the 2013/2014 season almost immediately but that did not work out as the clubs pleaded for more time for them to recover from the strain of the previous season.
Consequently, the League Management Company allowed the clubs to take a breather while it maps out strategies aimed at repositioning the league to make it more competitive and attractive.
In the process, the LMC emerged with ‘stringent’ conditions for registration which all the clubs must meet. The LMC among others made it mandatory for all clubs to provide N100m performance guarantee, pay players a minimum of N150,000 salaries, provide insurance cover for players, tender players medical certificates from reputable hospitals and upgrade their stadiums to be television friendly and also meet up with safety requirements.
Going by the number of years professional football has been played in Nigeria, these shouldn’t have posed any serious challenge to the clubs but everything became a herculean task for the clubs.
Although fully sponsored by their respective state governments, none of the clubs could readily meet up with the new conditions introduced by the LMC.
The clubs continued to wince and the LMC eventually softened up a bit to make the clubs scale some of the ‘hurdles’. Despite the understanding shown by the LMC, registration of players by the clubs continued at a snail pace.
Left with no choice, the LMC which had fixed February 21-23 as kick off date had to postpone the league and fix the ‘irrevocable’ new date of March 7 for the 2013/2014 season to commence.
“We have considered reports of the stadium facilities inspection teams and the need to allow the Clubs two weeks period to correct observed deficiencies in their facilities, hence the League earlier scheduled to start on February 21-23 will now start on the weekend of March 7 through to March 10. There will be no further extension after this period and the League will start with only Clubs that meet the minimum requirements”, declared the LMC Chairman Nduka Irabor.
At its last meeting with the clubs in Abuja, the LMC tempered justice with mercy when it made the registration conditions more flexible. It was decided by the league body that the most difficult of all the conditions which is the N100m performance guarantee should be staggered and paid in installments of N25m quarterly.
Furthermore, to reduce the strain on the clubs, the LMC accepted to bridge the pension scheme for players, ensure that clubs earn N.25m for televised games, increase referees and match commissioners indemnities by 25%, approve 50% rise in the total pay-out for merit award from N50m to N75m. It however insisted that no player in the NPL would earn less than N150,000 since sign on fees have been abolished.
Despite the show of understanding on the part of the LMC, the clubs which depend 100% on government for funding could not meet up with the two weeks grace for registration. As at Thursday, clubs were busy trying to complete the registration of the players.
Investigation revealed that most of the conditions for registration have not been met but the league has to start. Invariably, registration of players will last a little longer than directed by the LMC. Analysts believe it will be business as usual. They have based their argument on the failure of the LMC to compel clubs to adhere strictly to the given guidelines for registration.
Despite the pessimism surrounding the commencement of the 2013/2014 season, action in the league will continue today as debutants Giwa FC of Jos host defending champions Kano Pillars, Antelopes of Enugu as Rangers are called will welcome Nembe City, just as another debutant Abia Warriors will test their might against visiting Kaduna United.
In the other fixtures, debutants FC Taraba will trade tackles with Nasarawa United, Lobi Stars take on returnees Crown FC, depleted Heartland hosts Dolphins just as Gombe United will be in Uyo to slug it out with Akwa United.
Due to their continental engagements, matches involving Warri Wolves, Bayelsa United and Enyimba FC will be decided midweek. So El-Kanemi Warriors, Sharks and Sunshine Stars will not be in action this weekend as they wait for Wolves, Bayelsa and Enyimba to done with their continental ties.