Uncertainties surround NPL kick-off

Even as the clubs are obviously eager to commence football hostilities, there is serious cloud of doubt hanging over the commencement of the league because of unresolved issues. It is an open secret that the league has been bedevilled by multiple problems which have made nonsense of past efforts to bring it in tandem with […]

Even as the clubs are obviously eager to commence football hostilities, there is serious cloud of doubt hanging over the commencement of the league because of unresolved issues. It is an open secret that the league has been bedevilled by multiple problems which have made nonsense of past efforts to bring it in tandem with what is obtained in other climes.
It is imperative to know that the league was founded in 1972 with six teams. On Saturday 12 May 1990 at the Onikan Stadium Lagos, the league was rechristened the “Professional League” with a goal to modernize the game and make clubs self-sufficient.
To assist Pro League clubs in the timely achievement of the stated goals, all 56 professional club-sides that constituted the inaugural Pro League First and Second Division were granted a five-year tax moratorium on all income starting from 1990.
As earlier said, after the 2006 abridged version of the competition, the league changed its calendar to more closely match the common European regular season structure (starting around August and ending around May).
However, going by the present state of the Nigerian Premier League, it can be said that the above stated efforts geared towards having a vibrant league that can compete favourably with others elsewhere have been efforts in futility. If anything, the professional league can be described as glorified amateur league.
The reasons are obvious. After several years of existence, the clubs are professional only in name as there is hardly any semblance of professionalism associated in any of them. The administration of the league also leaves much to be desired as those charged with its day to day running are said to have clearly shown so much ineptitude in discharging their responsibilities.
The Nigerian Premier League board is better known for crisis than efficient management of the league. Since the end of the tenure of the inaugural chairman of the NPL, Chief Jackson Oyuki Obaseki in 2010, the Nigerian Premier League has known no peace. It has been one problem or the other centered on power tussle and sponsorship brouhaha.
It is therefore not surprising that several months after the 2011/2012 league season which turned out to be the longest in the history of Nigerian football league ended, the 2012/2013 season which should have commenced last year around August is just about to start.
Due to internal wrangling and constant clashes with programmes of the Nigeria Football federation, the 2011/2012 season suffered so many delays and postponements. Consequently, the league which started on January 7 2012 under Chief Baribote as chairman of the NPL ended on September 7. The season which witnessed mid-week matches was supposed to end in July.
The 2012/2013 could not start immediately because of serious power tussle as the already frosty relationship between Baribote and the 20 premier league clubs degenerated. To make matters worse, the Chief from Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa who served as 2nd vice-president of the NFF was out of favour with the board of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Consequently, when some of the club owners converged on Abuja in December 2012 and sacked Baribote and his board, it did not come to many as a surprise. Therefore, even when the NFF immediately intervened by upturning his impeachment, many took it with a pinch of salt.
The NFF would later supervise another congress in Abuja where the board led by Baribote was effectively removed and replaced with a a six-man committee headed by Mike Idoko. In a quick reaction, Chief Baribote headed straight to the Abuja High Court to have his board and mandate restored.
In another development, the Nigeria Football Federation replaced the Mike Idoko led committee with the existing Nigeria Professional Football League interim management committee being chaired by former member of the House of Representatives, Nduka Irabor.
It is this committee made up of seasoned football administrators that is bent on the league starting today. Going by the issues on ground, the interim management committee of the league is said to be putting the cart before the horse. It is said most of the problems that have delayed the kick-off of the league have not been addressed and may rear their ugly heads even if the league commences this afternoon.
It is a known fact that despite the peace and reconciliation meeting convened by the House of Representatives Committee on sports, Baribote is bent on pursuing his court case against the club owners and the NFF to a logical conclusion. Already Justice of A.M Mustapha of the Abuja High Court has asked Baribote and the NFF to appear before him on April 30. The Justice is waiting for the outcome of the case which is already before the Court of Appeal. This court case is unresolved issue number one.
Number two, the existence of the interim management committee is being challenged by the deposed chairman of the NPL. Is it recognised by law to transact any business in Nigeria? Yet, the committee has changed the name of the Nigeria Premier League to Nigeria Professional Football League and has gone ahead to preside over the sponsorship tussle between MTN and Globacom. This has generated controversy in so many quarters. Many are of the opinion that it is the fear of Baribote’s court case that necessitated the change of name from Nigeria Premier League to Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL. Won’t the law catch up with the sudden change of name?
Unresolved issue number three which is most critical is lack of funds to run the league which is bent on starting today. Although it has been widely reported that the interim committee with the support from the minister of sports and chairman, National Sports Commission, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi has amicably resolved the sponsorship brouhaha between MTN and Globacom, the resolution in favour of Glo is yet to yield any dividends.
As at press time, the Irabor committee was running from pillar to post for funds to kick start the 2012/2013 season. Its initial move to get money from the clubs in N50m bond hit the rock as the clubs which are perennially in need of money kicked against the proposal. At the moment, what may save the day is if the minister succeeds in getting the much talked about loan for the committee to start the season.
Even if the deal with the NSC sails through and the season begins, where is the guarantee that it would move smoothly to the end?. As earlier stated, a lot of issues have been left unresolved and such may come to haunt the league in the near future.
Consequently, many football fans are of the opinion that the lingering problems like the Baribote Court case and the sponsorship tussle should have been resolved completely before the commencement of the 2012/2013 season. However, Weekly Trust investigation revealed that the NPL clubs are eager to get the league underway.
General Manager of Kano Pillars, Alhaji Abba Galadima said it is better to get the league started because too much time has been wasted already. He said the clubs which are representing the country in the continent would suffer most from the non-commencement of the season.
“I know that there are a lot of issues on ground but a lot of time has been wasted already. Even if the league starts now, we would be running behind schedule and that would mean playing mid-week matches. This usually put so much pressure on the players and the purse of the clubs.
“But it is better to start than to keep waiting for all the issues to be resolved”.
Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Barrister Isaac Danladi said even as there are issues on ground, if those entrusted with the management of the league are ready to start, his club is equally ready. Nasawara United will play host to fellow returnees, El-Kanemi Warriors this Sunday.
“My club is ready to start the league any day. In the midst of the crisis, we did not go to sleep. We have continued to prepare for the kick-off and if the organisers feel we can start, there is no problem. Most problems are not solved in a day. The league can go on while the problems are being looked into”.
Team Manager of Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, Alloy Chukwumeka, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the March 9 date is irrevocable as stated by the committee.
The secretary of the club owners said while the league is on, the lingering problems could be addressed by the relevant authorities.
“As I talk to you we are rounding up our camp in Lokoja preparatory to our first game at home against our next-door neighbours, Kwara United. We shall be leaving for Ilorin on Friday (yesterday) for this important match.
“Personally, I support every effort being made to kickoff the league as scheduled. As secretary of club owners, I want to call on all the clubs to give the necessary support to the committee to ensure that the March 9 date is irrevocable.
“The league has suffered so many postponements and this is not good for the image of the league which is rated as the best in Africa. Let us start the league and continue to look into the problems on ground”.
The above captures the eagerness and readiness of the clubs to resume action in what is now Nigeria professional Football League, NPFL, but the huge shadow of doubt hovering over the league cannot be wished away. As at the time of going to press, the clubs were ready but the Irabor committee was still going about cap in hand for money to meet the basic requirements for week one matches.