Club Owners Sabotage Against IMC, NPFL Suffers Major Setback As NFF Approve Abridged League
The so-called Club Owners of the NPFL, who are hell-bent on sabotaging the new league season as well as the IMC, have suffered a major setback after the NFF approved for an abridged format for the forthcoming season.
In a letter dated December 23, 2022, and addressed to IMC Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NFF approved that the new season be played on an abridged format.
“I have the pleasure to convey to the Chairman approval of the NFF President to execute a transparent and open draw on 28th December, 2022, for an abridged league of two split format and with commencement date of Sunday, 8Th January, 2023 to end May 2023,” the correspondence signed by NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire read in part.
The Club Owners, who previously held the LMC hostage, have communicated the IMC they will not feature in an abridged NPFL after they claimed 17 out of the 20 clubs voted against such a format.
And on Sunday, in a circular signed by Cairman of the Club Owners, Isaac Danladi, they said they will not be part of Wednesday’s fixtures’ draw as proposed by the IMC.
“This is to bring to your notice that we are in receipt of the above circular inviting clubs for the 2023 NPFL draws on abridged league format.
“Consequently, I wish to further inform members and state categorically that this is not in consonance with the joint decision of clubs and IMC at the last meeting of Wednesday 21st Dec 2022 whereby it was agreed inter-alia that the abridged league proposed by IMC and the straight league which was overwhelmingly proposed by the clubs would be communicated to NFF by the IMC for further necessary action.
“We are therefore perplexed and amazed that just few hours after the meeting, IMC came up with a circular fixing 28th December as date for draws based on abridge league format.
“We wish to categorically dissociate ourselves with the circular and state firmly that clubs would not be part of the draws on 28th December 2022, neither would we participate in an abridged league.
“The clubs remain resolute in our quest to have a better league that will endure, hence we cannot be part of an arrangement that will not be beneficial to football development in Nigeria.”
Instead, the Club Owners will now meet same day in Asaba to review matters arising.
