LMC Announces New Dates For Fixtures Displaced By Continental Engagements

Fixtures involving the three Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs with continental engagements have been rescheduled to accommodate the return leg of the second round of the two Confederation of African Football (CAF) Club competitions which takes place this weekend. The fixtures didn’t follow the two weeks return leg format and are holding just a week after the first legs played last weekend.

Salihu Abubakar, the League Management Company (LMC) Chief Operating Officer announced the adjustments in a communication to the clubs and explained that it has further adjusted the already rescheduled midweek fixtures already billed for Wednesday, March 16 .

According to Abubakar, “these changes would not affect the end of season dates because we have made the adjustments utilizing dates that were in the first place deliberately kept free as a fall back for unforeseen situations such as these. Most of the fixtures will hold during the midseason break and thus will not alter our calendar as such”.

Nasarawa United, Enyimba International were to have played outstanding fixtures from Match Day 2 on Wednesday, March 16 but both teams are billed to travel out late Tuesday for their continental dates, hence the matches are now to hold on March 30. It therefore means that the Match Day 2 fixtures: Enyimba vs Shooting Stars, FC IfeanyiUbah vs Shooting Stars and Wikki Tourists vs Warri Wolves will hold on March 30.

However, the Match Day 8 fixtures involving the clubs and which were to hold midweek of Wednesday, March 23 has been shifted by one day to March 24 to allow the clubs travel time after their return from continental engagements. These fixtures are: Nasarawa United vs Ikorodu United, Akwa United vs Warri Wolves and Enyimba vs Plateau United. The adjustment confirmed that the midseason break will hold from May 23 to June 4.

Below is the complete list of the rescheduled fixtures.

Thursday, March 24
MD 8; Nasarawa vs Ikorodu
Akwa Utd vs Warri Wolves
Enyimba vs Plateau Utd

Wednesday, March 30
MD 2; Enyimba vs 3SC
FCIfeanyiUbah vs Nasarawa
MD 6; Wikki Tourists vs Warri Wolves

Wednesday, April 27
MD 3; Sunshine Stars vs Enyimba
Nasarawa United vs Giwa
MD 7; Warri Wolves vs Abia Warriors

Wednesday, May 4
MD 6; Enyimba vs Heartland)
Nasarawa United vs Shooting Stars

Wednesday, May 11
MD 7; Kano Pillars vs Enyimba
Sunshine Stars vs Nasarawa United

Wednesday, May 25
MD 10; Enyimba vs Warri Wolves
Nasarawa vs Heartland

Wednesday, May 29
MD 12; Enyimba vs Abia Warriors
FCIfeanyiUbah vs Warri Wolves
Nasarawa vs Plateau United

NPFL Match Day 5 Round-up: Rabiu Ali’s hat trick lifts Pillars to joint tops with Rangers

Rabiu Ali was the hero of the day with a hat trick as Kano Pillars joined Rangers International at the top with 10 points after Match Day 5 fixtures with a 3-2 win over Akwa United at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday evening. Rangers had climbed to the pole position 24 hours earlier after a 1-0 defeat of hard fighting Wikki Tourists. Godwin Aguda netted the only goal of that match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium reports http://www.npfl.ng

Akwa United recently sent out of the CAF Confederation Cup in a penalty shootout with a Congolese side began brightly in Kano, taking the lead after 10 minutes through Michael Ibe Okoro but the lead was short-lived as Rabiu Ali waited just four minutes to erase the lead and for the first of what would be an eventual hat trick.

Ali, a veteran of many Kano Pillars league battles of recent seasons would show up again 12 minutes later for his brace and it was Ubong Ekpai, his former Kano Pillars mate that restored parity for his new club, Akwa United on 44th minute to end the first half 2-2.

But Ali had other thoughts as two minutes into the second half, he completed his hat trick before Ekpai was sent off 20 minutes later to ensure perhaps that there would be no other opportunity for the Promise Keepers to draw level.

In Katsina, defending champions, Enyimba International were turned back 2-0 by El-Kanemi Warriors in what is considered one of the big wins of the night. The Peoples’ Elephant thus continued their indifferent start to the season which has recorded two defeats on the road and a nail biting 1-0 win against newly promoted side, Ikorodu United. Enyimba has two outstanding games.

Chinedu Ohanachom made good his pre-match boasts of turning around the fortunes of the Borno Warriors as he opened scoring on 13th minute hitting a left footed shot to the roof of the net with an assist from former Kano Pillars Hele Hele. Ibrahim Mustapha completed the defending champions misery on 54th minute when he scrambled in the second goal.

Abia Warriors

There was late drama in Jos where Abia Warriors emerged with a point in the kitty. Super Eagles invitee and Abia Warriors defense strongman, Austin Obaroakpo had handled the ball inside their box in added time with scores at 1-1. Plateau fans were ecstatic and looked forward to another home win but Charles Okafor dashed the expectations as John Gaadi followed his kick and saved for Abia Warriors to earn a second draw on the road. Victor Namo scored first off Sunday Ngbede’s assist but former Lobi Stars forward, Uche Ihuarulam nodded in on 53rd minute to level scores for the Umuahia Warriors.

Heartland ended their winless run with a 1-0 win off Fortune Omoniwari’s strike that pushed Lobi Stars off the top of the table. Omoniwari had connected Onyebuchi Ajunwa’s cross on 41 minutes to give the Nazi Millionaires a respite from their previous draw and a loss in front of their fans.

The earliest goal of the day was scored in Ibadan by Izu Joseph on the 2nd minute as Shooting Stars welcomed their former Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote with Giwa FC and sent their man back with a 2-1 defeat. Aminu Mbai of Giwa was expelled on 83rd minute before Kabir Umar sealed the win with a second goal on 87th minute. But Olawale Isiaka pulled one back in added time but it was too late in the day.

SUNSHINE STARS AKURE

It was another late drama in Akure where FC IfeanyiUbah almost earned their second win on the road but was thwarted by a late Sunshine Stars equalizer.

Substitute Okereke Maduabuchi had barely spent a couple of minutes on the pitch when he completed a classic counter-offensive to put the Nnewi Warriors in front four minutes to regulation time. Sunshine Stars stormed upwards, pushed FC IfeanyiUbah back and forced a corner kick which Kola Odunlami scrambled in off a rebound. It was their second late rally for a draw at home, first being against Akwa United.

In Warri, the Seasiders piped Niger Tornadoes 1-0 thanks to Achibi Ewnike’s 5th minute screamer while Guy Kuemian scored in added time to ensure Rivers United claimed all three points against Nasarawa United in Port Harcourt.

MFM FC

The much awaited Lagos Derby lived up to the billing only in terms of the colourful atmosphere at the Onikan Waterfront. Lagos football fans turned out in good numbers and it was a carnival of sorts but they had to make do with the barren draw on the field between the two teams, Ikorodu United and MFM, promoted at the start of the season to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

LMC Reschedule Enyimba, Nasarawa and Akwa Match Day 2 Fixtures

Match Day 2 fixtures involving three clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been rescheduled and will now hold on March 16, 2016.

The fixtures are Akwa United versus Ikorodu United, Enyimba International versus Shooting Stars and FC IfeanyiUbah vs Nasarawa United.

Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company explained that Match Day 2 fixtures were put on hold at the instance of the clubs involved in continental competitions. Match Day 3 fixtures involving the three clubs will accordingly be played on March 23, 2016.

“The clubs were already not in the Match Day 3 fixtures due to their continental fixtures holding on the weekend of February 26-28 but we have received representations from officials of the three clubs pleading to be allowed to focus on their continental fixtures”, Abubakar explained.

Nasarawa United FC photo credit @NPFLstats

Nasarawa United are already billed to fly out Tuesday to Dakar, Senegal for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie against AS Academie Demonstration Foot. The first leg saw the Lafia side in a narrow 2-1 win.

Enyimba International will host Vipers of Uganda in the second leg of the CAF Champions League after losing the first leg 1-0 in Kampala. The match will hold at the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Akwa United will also play their second leg tie of the CAF Confederations Cup against Vita Club de Mokanda of Congo.

Abubakar said the adjustment in fixtures did not affect other clubs whose games will hold this Wednesday as previously scheduled.

LMC Fines Club Officials, Performance of 4 Referees, 8 Assistants for Review

…Ladan Bosso also fined

Two senior club officials, a coach and 12 match officials including four Referees and eight Assistant Referees have been charged under the NPFL Rulebook by the League Management Company (LMC) for various acts considered inimical to the good of the game.

General Manager of FC Taraba, Mr. Tijani Babangida and that of Heartland, Mr. Okechukwu Ibe whose is also a Director of LMC have been fined N50, 000 and N200, 000 respectively for comments and behaviours that were in breach of some sections of the Code of Conduct for Club Officials under the NPFL rules. Similarly, Abia Warriors Head Coach, Ladan Bosso was fined N50, 000 for comments the LMC ruled to be in breach of Article 14 of the Code of Conduct for Coaches and Managers and Article C1 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Babangida and Bosso were cited for public comments against referees considered capable of bringing the league to disrepute while Ibe was charged for acts capable of bringing the league to disrepute including excessive complaints against the Referee during the Match Day 11 Enyimba vs Heartland. Babangida’s charge followed his comments to the media on the Match Day 11 fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba even after he had followed the official channels to lay a complaint about the officiating and is aware it’s bring dealt with.

Ladan Bosso, photo credit ladanbosso.blogspot.com

Bosso’s charge is in relation to comments he made to the media against the Referee after the Match Day 12 fixture between Rangers and Abia Warriors for which the LMC said he “failed to act in an ethical and professional manner, in the best interest of the game, and you made statements capable of bringing the game to disrepute”.

They were asked to within 48 hours accept the respective sanctions imposed or elect to defend themselves before a commission and they have all accepted the charges and apologized.

The LMC also forwarded the cases of the Match Officials to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Appointment Committee requesting that the listed officials performances be reviewed and dropped from further officiating NPFL games pending the conclusion of the review of their performance in some matches.

In referring the case to the Committee, the LMC expressed dissatisfaction with their performances in some fixtures of Match Day 11 and 12.

Referee Jerry Akure from Benue State and his assistants, Aliyu Jingi (Bauchi) and Garba Musa from Yobe State were charged for below par handling the Match Day 11 fixture in Umuahia between Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars while Referee Maaji Mohammed and his assistants Abbas J and Alfa Gimba, all of Niger State Referees Council were charged for poor officiating in the fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and FC Taraba also in Match day 11.

Two other cases from Match Day 12 involved Referee Sam Agba from Ogun State Council and his two assistants from the Oyo State Council on a charge of poor performance in the match between Enyimba International and Heartland. The last case of poor performance listed by the LMC involved Referee Mohammed D. Sule and his assistants, Suleiman Jimeta and Sani Mohammed all from Adamawa State Referees’ Council who officiated in the match between Kano Pillars and Giwa FC.

NFF referees committee have already commenced review of the listed match officials performances upon receipt of the necessary details and visuals from the LMC.

Super Six: Low Spectatorship, The Solution

The Super Six tournament got underway on Saturday with less than one thousand spectators at the 60000-seater Abuja National Stadium.

Kano Pillars, Dolphins, Enyimba International, Warri Wolves, Dream Team VI and the Flying Eagles were all in action in the match day one of the competition.

The poor patronage of the tournament is not the influx of the major European leagues, but lack of adequate planning by the organizers of the event.

The domestic game in Nigeria is exciting and the reason why some centres don’t record huge spectators amazes me at times.

I don’t think the increased interest in the English Premier League is the cause of the low patronage of our league, rather some measures need to be put in place by the League Management Company.

For every problem there are solutions and antidotes.

You will agree with me that hashtag in the modern world is an acceptable means of sending messages.

Creation of hashtag for a big tournament like the Super Six should have made fans well informed and aware of the competition.

The awareness and advertisements has always made people talk about the English Premier League and South African League.

What measures was taken by the LMC to embark on quality advertisement for the Super Six?

The world have accepted the social media with people sharing ideas on the facebook, twitter, Instagram, BB amongst others.

As the saying goes a tree can’t make a forest. The LMC on their own are making good use of the social media to project the activities of the League but then they can’t do it effectively without the help of League writers and other sports journalists who are active on the social media.

Primarily, the success of every football event is not the organisation. It’s not how entertaining the event will be but how appreciable it is with the fans.

Nigerians love to see good football and I believe the Super six is one of the best football tournament in Nigeria in terms of entertainment, good officiating and soccer artistry.

While attendance has suffered, TV ratings remain strong. Not a single game was below standard on Saturday.

For a league with talents, the key now is adding more innovations and swagger to the in-stadium experience, beyond just the opportunity to see a game in person.

LMC should be wise to improve the in-stadium experience while attendance is strong; as opposed to waiting for fans to stop coming to the stadium and having to spend more money to win them back.

They should try to partner with media houses and the true reporters of domestic football in order to improve the publicity.

Abuja Internaional Stadium, photo credit Jeff Attaway

Mobilization is also a key component of luring fans to the Arena.

The LMC should give fans enough value to incentivize them to attend games.

Don’t expect this problem to go away in the foreseeable future if measures are not put in place.

LMC #LetStadiumBeFilled.

Alonge Akinlolu

Football Writer & a Social media #Geek, Fortunate father, passionate about Nigeria football

*www.footyalert.blogspot.com
*www.sl10.ng
*www.stadiumjourney.com

Dream Team, Flying Eagles To Play In Glo Premier League Super 4

The 2014/15 Glo Premier League pre-season tournament will hold from January 22-February 2 in Abuja with the two junior national teams, the National U-23 team (Dream Team) and National U-20 team (Flying Eagles) coming as invited participants.

The League Management Company (LMC) announced the dates and said the invitation was at the instance of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as part of the Federation’s evolving plans to adequately prepare the teams for the continental championships commencing from February this year.

The pre-season tournament, an annual fixture in the calendar of the LMC will feature the top three clubs on the log of the 2013/14 season plus the Federation Cup winner and will serve as tune-up for the clubs to test their newly signed players and also perfect their competitive game plans for continental club championships due to commence in February. The four clubs are league winners, Kano Pillars, Enyimba International, Warri Wolves and Dolphins FC, runners-up to Enyimba in the Federation Cup.

Enyimba fc

The tournament will be played on a round rubbing structure with each team playing five matches over five match days within a ten-day period. Accordingly, three matches will be played on each match day. All the matches of the Glo Premier League Super 4 will enjoy live coverage from the LMC Broadcast partners, SuperSport.

“Though this is our usual pre-season activity, it is happening this time with a marked difference in that we would be having the national teams, the Dream Team and the Flying Eagles joining the traditional four clubs representing Nigeria in all CAF Club competitions to participate in the tournament with the sole objective to ensure that the six participating teams prepared adequately for their continental engagements starting next month”, explained the LMC chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar.

He also disclosed that the pre-season activities will also include capacity building workshops for club captains, coaches, medical officers, club media officers, Managers and Match Commissioners.

Dolphins Fc

“One of the topical issues of the league presently is the funding of clubs in the reality of dwindling government revenue earnings at all levels and there is a great opportunity to educate the Club Managers/Owners on alternative sources of funding especially the revenue funding opportunities available through Community Ownership of clubs”, Abubakar further explained.

Enyimba International won last season’s tournament that also featured Kano Pillars, Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves.

NOLLYWOOD STAR CHARLES AWURUM,COMMENDS ABIA WARRIORS

Abia Warriors FC

Renowned Nollywood Star, Charles Awurum, has described Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia as an outfit that has the ability to rule Nigeria in this season’s Glo Premier League.

Awurum, who was one of the numerous special guests including Diewait Ikpechukwu, who watched the Warriors hold visiting Enyimba International of Aba to a thrilling 3-3 draw in a week 24 encounter in Umuahia said from what he saw, The Warriors, who are making their debut in the elite class of Nigerian Football, have demonstrated that they are not pushovers having challenged for the title with other soccer giants in the country.

NOLLYWOOD STAR CHARLES AWURUM,COMMENDS ABIA WARRIORS.

The Nollywood Star, who presented prizes to winners of Abia Warriors’ “Pick n’ win” raffle draw which hold at half time of every home game, said he was not surprised at the exploits of the club this season considering the caliber of men behind it like the Chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama adding that with fantastic prizes going to lucky winners in the half time draw, it was not surprising the arena was jam-packed.

While insisting that this was the first of its kind in Nigerian Football, the special guest commended the management of the club for brining true professionalism to Abia Warriors pointing out that by giving out prizes like plasma television, DVD Players, Electric Iron, Standing Fans and club replica jerseys among others to their fans, Abia Warriors appreciates their support.

LMC moves to lure Nigerian Internationals to Glo Premier League

An innovative scheme that is aimed at attracting to the Glo Premier League, Nigerian players with international exposure has been launched by the League Management Company (LMC) and this is already accommodated in the 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules.

The scheme, christened the ‘Elite Players Project’ was explained in detail to the 20 Premier League Clubs in a circular signed by Salihu Abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer and listed the major objective to include the improvement of professionalism in the NPFL by permitting clubs to register a maximum of two ex-international players in addition to the maximum 35 allowed in a season.

Introducing the project to the clubs in the circular of April 20, the LMC said “the LMC hereby brings to the notice of all participating Clubs of the NPFL the commencement of its ‘Elite Players Project’. This project is pursuant to Rules 9.65, 9.67. 13.60.1, 13.60(viii) and 15.21 of the NPFL Framework and Rules 2013/14 season”

The LMC further explained that the benefits of the scheme to clubs, players, fans, sponsors and the League. “It has been designed to increase and deepen players-experience pool of the league, bolster the morale and confidence of younger players in the NPFL, project the image of the league as a welcoming and conducive playing environment for the return of Nigeria’s finest crop of international professional footballers and boost the mass appeal of the league for commercialization”.

The LMC however also listed criteria which will qualify any player to benefit from the scheme and stated “the ex-international player must have played for Nigeria at the Olympic Games, Nations Cup, World Cup or alternatively have earned at least 20 international caps and must have played in a world class league of undisputable pedigree for a minimum of five seasons”. In special circumstances that will be determined by the LMC, wavers may be granted in some cases and the Clubs can register such elite players at any point in the season so far they have not exceeded the maximum quota of two in the season.

Sanni Kaita

Already, Enyimba International of Aba may have been the first to take advantage of the project as they are on the verge of presenting former Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Sani Kaita for registration on a short loan stint. South American leagues and South Africa are known to have benefitted hugely from the return of their national stars who made headlines in Europe and it is indeed believed that every South American player, especially Brazil and Argentina always plan to retire from football playing for their domestic league clubs.

The LMC said it will also support the project by paying undisclosed stipends to the players in addition to whatever financial arrangements individual players will reach with interested Clubs.

“To encourage the players settle down, the LMC will pay additional stipends that will make life more comfortable to the elite players and help them adjust faster “, Abubakar disclosed.

GLO NPL – El-Kanemi gets new date with Abia Warriors

A new date of Wednesday, March 26 has been announced for the postponed Match Day 2 fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and Abia Warriors.

The League Management Company (LMC) announced that the match will be played at the Kano Pillars Stadium in Kano which will now host home fixtures of the Maiduguri-based side until further notice.

Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of LMC disclosed this and said “in the light of developments in Maiduguri and adjoining cities, we had to suspend all fixtures in the town and have moved their home fixtures for now to Kano”.

The match will kick-off at 4.15pm local time. Meanwhile, in Match Day 2 fixtures, Heartland will host Sharks in Owerri in a Friday Star Match while the following day, Crown FC will play home to Dolphins FC, FC Taraba will receive El-Kanemi Warriors in Jalingo and Rangers International are hosts to Kano Pillars.

In Uyo, Akwa United will clash with Kaduna United and in Katsina Ala, it is Lobi Stars versus Gombe United. Also on Wednesday, March 26, Warri Wolves are home to Enyimba International while Bayelsa United are home to Nasarawa United.

In a related development, host broadcasters of the Glo Premier League, SuperSport has said the repeat broadcast of the match between Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars will start airing from 00.50 am on SuperSport Select and SuperSport Select Go.

It will also be aired on Tuesday at 2pm and 1am on SuperSport 9 while on Wednesday, it will be broadcast at 8am and 00.45am on SuperSport Select and SuperSport Select Go.

The broadcast schedule will continue on Thursday, March 20 on SuperSport 9 at 4.50pm and 00.50am while on Friday, the final repeat broadcast will be at 11.00am and 00.50am on SuperSport 9.