President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau said it is not their intention to play abridge but with the situation they find themselves, it is a child of necessity. According to him, the sponsors want to ensure that the league takes off and with time constraints, only abridged league is feasible.
He added that the major stakeholders, the players would have enough time to rest and be mentality and physically prepared for the next season.
He made this statement during the presentation of N200m take off grant to 20 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL teams on Thursday at the Sandralia Hotel, Abuja.
He however added that abridged league will enable them finish the season with two months for clubs that will represent Nigeria at the CAF Clubs Competition to recruit, prepare and compete favourably among the best in the competitions.
The NFF President also said it will help the league to align with the rest of the world by starting next season in August. “ At the end of the season, the players must have their rest, they should be able to travel anywhere to enjoy themselves and they must be given that opportunity. The teams representing the country at the continent must also prepare well, before another season and CAF competition begins.”
Alhaji Gusau however revealed that it’s being a long time that money is given to clubs and he emphatically told the Interim Management Committee, IMC to make the takeoff grant public. “We want transparency, that is the only way more sponsors can come in and trust us, that is the only way Nigerians can support us. I will be in Uyo to start the league on Sunday,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, chairman of the IMC, Gbenga Elegbeleye revealed that they are giving N200m to the 20 NPFL teams to support them and also ensure that the league takes off.
He however disclosed that the winner of the league will be going home with N100m. Recall that this is the first time such amount will be given. The past winners of the NPFL have on several occasions be denied their prize monies because of the lack of accountability.
The representative of the sponsor, GTI, Mr. Nelson Ineh said presentation of the takeoff grant was the beginning of a new era. “In few months to come, we will see Nigerian football thriving. We can’t wait for Nigerian football to take its place in the global world. We want to see the Super Eagles dominating Africa and ranked amongst the best in the world once again.
Also speaking, chairman of Club Managers, Isaac Danladi said they will put the fight between them and the IMC on hold for now, so that they can give football a new leaf of life.
“I am so overwhelmed. We disagree to agree.
The club managers are credible people and we will use the money judiciously and not for personal use,” he concluded.
