The Nigeria Football Federation has called upon the League Management Company (LMC) to do everything humanly possible to make sure that 2018/2019Nigeria professional football league season kick-off by January 13th, 2019.
In a statement released by Nigeria Football Federation Emergency Committee on Friday, following the letters received from five of the eight clubs which are supposed to compete in Nigeria National League Super 8 saying they lack enough players to prosecute the tournament which was previously scheduled for Thursday 19th to 23rd of December.
However, the NFF has now given the affected clubs additional two weeks to recruit players and also stressed that the club’s decision not to show up at the venue of the tournament will be reviewed by the federation, while the remaining three clubs that showed up will be compensated.
Here is the full statement:
Following the directive to the eight Clubs qualified for the Super 8 Tournament of the Nigeria National League to proceed to Aba for the tournament, we received letters from Clubs to the effect that they presently do not have enough players to prosecute the tournament. Apparently, most Clubs in the country’s Leagues sign a good number of their players for only one season. This personnel appears to have floated to other Clubs in search of greener pastures.
In view of the above, and the contrite tone of their letters, the Emergency Committee has opted to allow the affected Clubs two (2) weeks to recruit players to beef up their playing personnel, after which they will then prosecute the Super 8. The NNL should, therefore, pick new dates not later than 3rd January for the tournament.
In the meantime, the matter relating to the five (5) affected Clubs will be referred to the relevant NFF committee to deal with while the three (3) Clubs that showed up in Aba as directed will each be paid compensation of the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira Only).
The League Management Company (LMC) is hereby advised to ensure the commence of the NPFL 2018/2019 Season, not later than 13th January 2019.
