NPFL: Players bemoan kickoff postponement as former FA Chairman regret state of the league...
Players and other stakeholders in the Nigeria Professional Football League are displeased with the postponement of the league earlier slated to start September 9.
This is not the first time the start of the 2023/24 NPFL season has been postponed.
To keep in shape before they a new date is announced clubs have resolved to organise more friendly games.
Meanwhile, the league body is yet to announce a new date for the commencement of the new NPFL season.
Media Officer of Sunshine Stars, Michael Akintunde, told Punch newspaper, “We were preparing for what we thought would be our last friendly game against Kwara United on Wednesday when we got the news, but right now we have to look for at least local teams we can engage at home pending the time a new date will be announced.”
In the same vein, four-time champions Kano Pillars, their northwest rivals Katsina United, Niger Tornadoes, and Gombe United were quick to arrange a week-long pre-season tournament which will end on September 13.
Meanwhile, the former Chairman of Gombe State Football Association and now Chairman of the State Athletics Association, Ahmed Gara Gombe, has opened up on some of the rots in the NPFL.
The NPFL, which has GTI, as its major sponsor, has been under scrutiny in recent days, following a declaration by former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, that he would rather watch the English Premier League than pay attention to the local league.
Okocha’s position was comprehended on Wednesday by former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu, who stated that those handling Nigerian football, including the league and national teams, pay too much attention to gratification.
Gara Gombe, alleged, that some Nigerians have turned Match Commissioning job for NPFL matches into “a rehabilitation engagement, job-for-the-boys and an IDP Camp, where people get some palliatives to overcome destitution.”
He said: “I have seen where someone who wants to give out his daughter in marriage, someone who wants to pay school fees for his children,
and someone who wants to pay his house rent, are given a Match Commissioner appointment to take care of their problems. All these are happening in our League. People who support certain candidates and are loyal to leaders of our Football are rewarded with Match Commissioner’s appointment,” he told The Guardian
Speaking further, Gara Gombe, who also served as former chairman of Gombe United FC said: “Match Commissioners are integral and essential component of our football. Commissioning of matches is a job for certain categories of people, essentially people with sound pedigree in football administration or relevant fields. They include retired referees with proven integrity. Unfortunately, I have seen tailors, motor mechanics, plumbers, and even supermarket attendants as Match Commissioners. I know of a few who can’t speak English for 30 minutes non-stop or compose a two-paragraph story serving as Match Commissioners. The rot and decay are endless.”
