The football club Owners Association of Nigeria have given reasons why it rejected the proposed Abridged League format put forward by the Interim Management committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, #Desertsports has gathered.

In a Christmas message to the Football stakeholders in Nigeria, club Owners in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman Chief Barr Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka described the proposed Abridged League format as a caricature of the NPFL, a League once rated as the best League in Africa.

The Association said , the only time Abridged League was played was in a special circumstances when there was leadership crisis in the Federation which affected the smooth running of football thus Abridged League was taken as an option.

But for a League that has stabilized over the years to revert back to Abridged League is like taking the system ten years backward.

Club Owners said that it was a majority decision by 16+1 clubs against only 3 clubs that supported the Abridged League hence it was surprised to see the IMC adopting Abridged League against popular decisions, thereby deceiving the NFF on the true outcome of the joint meeting.

The Association argued that the ongoing CAF Competitions will end in June 2023 and next edition to commence in September/October 2023 coupled with the fifa World Cup break which will alter many Confederations programmes, hence it asked why the hurry, It queried .

Associating Nigeria Football with an bridged League in this century is a big slap on the country as a great soccer nation of the world, because both Enyimba and other clubs who made Nigeria proud were not champions of Abridged League, it said.

The Association however insisted that Clubs would resist the Abridged League format by shunning the draws slated for 28th December 2022 in Abuja, just as a meeting of the Club Owners has been slated for the same day at Toprank Hotel in Asaba Delta State.

The entire football followers await NFF intervention as the NPFL is expected to kick off in January 8th 2023.

Source: Desert Sports.

.. Caution against unguarded utterances.

The end has not been heard on the imbroglio surrounding the commencement of 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL season as the participating clubs are set for another round of protest.

The latest em passe is about the format to be employed for the new season which has drawn mixed feelings among the stakeholders of the league, notably the Interim Management Committee and the club managers.

In a statement issued on Sunday which was purposely meant to wish Christian faithful on Christmas by the Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria (Club Owners), the umbrella body of Proprietors, Chairmen and Managers of top Professional Domestic football League Clubs in Nigeria, it specifically disclosed that member-clubs had in a joint meeting with the IMC unanimously voted for a full league with 16+1 votes, to 3 votes, and against a proposal for an abridged league.

The release jointly signed by the Chairman of the association, Bar. Isaac Danladi and Executive Secretary, Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, alleged that some group of persons went behind to push for an abridged league which is a caricature of the NPFL, a league once adjudged as the number league in Africa.

The Club Owners stated that the decision of the clubs on a full league format remain unchanged and reject the proposed abridged league in its entirety.

The statement assured that a full league format can still be completed within the normal time frame, with submissions of the CAF Competitions representatives and aligns the NPFL with the International Football calendar.

The Association however used the occasion to warn mischief makers and blackmailers who were hired by some toxic interests within the system to cause disaffection between the Association and other Football stakeholders, stressing that Football can only strive in an atmosphere of an enabling environment where negotiations and round table discussions are cherished.

.. Caution against unguarded utterances.

The Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria (Club Owners), the umbrella body of Proprietors, Chairmen and Managers of top Professional Domestic football League Clubs in Nigeria have sent a special greetings to Football stakeholders in Nigeria especially the Christian Faithfuls as they celebrate Christmas.

Christians all over the World will today celebrate Christmas to mark the birthday of the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Club Owners in a goodwill messages jointly signed by its chairman Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka enjoined the Christians to use the special occasion to pray fervently for the growth and development of the domestic league in Nigeria as well as safety of its players and officials against untimely deaths.

The Association specifically commended the Honourable Minister of youths and sports, Chief Sunday Dare for his fraternity with the Association and its recognition in the Football development Master plan as well as his creation of an Interim Management Committee IMC for the NPFL to restructure the league and lay a solid foundation for its growth and development.

Club Owners also used the Christmas festivities to congratulate the new Leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF led by Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau and commended his steps at reconciling all aggrieved parties in his quest to have a united Football family.

It extended its greetings to the Interim Management Committee IMC of the NPFL, who were mandated to restructure the league and lay a solid foundation for its future growth and development with assurance that the club owners would give them the necessary cooperation to succeed within its limited time frame.

Club Owners further sent warmly Christmas greetings to the Players Union, Coaches Association, the Sporting Media, the Clubs, Referees and Match commissioners,Match Delegates and Assessors, the Security agencies, supporters and fans as well as other stakeholders and wished them a Special Christmas blessings.

The Association however used the occasion to warn mischief makers and blackmailers who were hired by some toxic interests within the system to cause disaffection between the Association and other Football stakeholders, stressing that Football can only strive in an atmosphere of an enabling environment where negotiations and round table discussions are cherished.

BY Alloy Chukwuemeka

The man Shehu Dikko that I have known over the years is a Seasoned Administrator of repute, and a Marketing guru from a successful private sector background.

An astute Football Administrator and passionate sportsman with a high level of charisma, intelligence, outspoken, exposed and ready to take risks.

He is a man with so much wisdom and exposure that he could work and interact with people of different backgrounds and flows accordingly without undue sentiments.

From a Muslim background in the ancient city of Zaria, the graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, kaduna has grown to become a guru in Football Administration, both locally and at the international scenes.

Many of us who are very close to him always mistake his calmness and thoroughness as a delay- in -action flaw, but he is a man who takes his time to intelligently understudy events before making informed decisions.

Though no human being is perfect, but the likes of Shehu Dikko can perfectly turn around any situation and positively influence a system to work well.

Since his assumption of office as the CEO of the LMC after playing a vital role to midwife the creation of the League Management Company (LMC), Dikko worked closely with the then Chairman, Hon. Nduka Irabor to unbundle the commercial inflows of the NPFL.

As the CEO of the LMC, he was in the forefront of attracting a lot of sponsorship deals like Supersport, FIRS, 1-XBET, and recently Bet9ja, Hero Beer, Bitnob and etc, now under his leadership as the Chairman of the LMC.

As the CEO of the LMC, he was instrumental to the NPFL-LaLiga partnership which took football stakeholders and NPFL All Stars team to Spain, for Grade A soccer tournaments, Capacity Building for Administrators and etc.

The partnership also culminated to the NPFL- LaLiga Technical Partnership for training of local coaches as well as the yearly NPFL- Laliga U-15 Promises championship, for youth development.

Despite the negative actions of some toxic elements and football critics who work negatively against the system to frustrate and discourage some of the potential investors in the League, Dikko painstakingly floated the NPFL-TV, which attracted commendation from both within and outside the shores of the country.

His uncommon transformation to the Domestic League NPFL attracted international recognition when he was invited to join other Leagues across the world to become a pioneer member of the World Leagues Forum.

He is also a member of CAF and FIFA Committees, aside being a recipient of the prestigious ‘The Sun Sports Man of the Year’ award, amongst others.

Malam Shehu Dikko is currently the 2nd Vice President of the NFF and Chairman, Strategic Studies Committee with great knowledge, contacts and diplomatic exposure to revamp the Nigeria Football system and take the country’s football to greater heights.

In 2014, the entire football stakeholders in Nigeria unanimously tipped him to become the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, but power play and political intrigues stopped him amidst victimization and humiliations.

Despite that denial, he humbled himself and joined the present day NFF leadership, working together with total loyalty, dedication and commitment in the interest of the game.

Today, time has beckoned on him to come and take the mantle that was taken away from him, to fulfill God’s design and destiny, to take Nigeria Football to the Promised Land.

Alloy Chukwuemeka writes from Baba-Ode, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

It was the usual tradition but this time with more fun fare as the Nigeria Professional Footballers Wives Association (NPFWA) marked its third years of existence.

The body that comprises of wives of professional footballers playing trades in and outside Nigeria have become a formidable group that has been used to help members to have a happy home and become more of supporting vessels to their hubbies.

President of the Association, Mrs. Ifeoma Ichull Lordson told onwardnews24.com that it has being a mixture of feelings to lead the group but with more positives.

“My heart is overjoyed that we have stick together and stronger for three years, though the group is still very young and growing yet we cannot but thank God for how far He has brought us.

“Coordinating women is not an easy thing to do as you know that the NPFWA is a combination of women of different ages, languages customs, traditions, backgrounds, and even financial status.

“The journey so far has been wonderful and I don’t regret the formation of this group at all because God has used us to put smiles on many homes of our colleagues and even outsiders.

“We pray together for ourselves and for a successful careers of our husbands, we’ve also helped many of us to learn through how to cope being a footballer’s wife and others meaningful things we’ve been doing.

Over the years, it has being the custom of the Association to visit the Orphanage and less privilege as a way of giving back to the society and this year is no different as NPFWA Jos and Kaduna chapters reached out to Orphanage homes and roadside sellers.

This, the association did at various chapters and centres across the country which they also used to form stronger bond among themselves.

Mrs. Lordson who called on other wives of footballers to join them appreciated those that have been supporting the group.

“NPFWA will keep improving and getting better as we have the backing of those that believe in what we do and supporting us and also I also believe in spirit of togetherness of every member of NPFWA.

“Special thanks to our able Patron, Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, Director of Football at ABS Football Club Ilorin and our amiable Matron, Mrs. Henrrientta Ihiabor Iheakonyen of Delta Queens Asaba, who have immensely supported us both morally and financially, NPFWA appreciate you.

Congratulations and happy anniversary to Nigeria Professional Footballers Wives Association (NPFWA).