Nigerian Football League On Deathbed – Sports Minister
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Sports News
Sunday Dare, the minister of youth and sports development, says
the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is on its deathbed.
The minister said the league is currently in a state of disarray, with
coaches, players and referees owed salaries and allowances.
Dare
made the comment on Thursday while speaking at the ministerial briefing at the
presidential villa, Abuja.
The comment came after the Abuja office
of the League Management Company (LMC) was sealed up earlier in the day.
The federal government recently announced the dissolution of the
LMC as the recognized operator of the NPFL.
The minister said the
dissolution of the LMC was delayed in a bid to find a solution despite
receiving the approval since May 2022.
He said: “Between May and
August, we did not issue a directive because we wanted the Premier League to
complete its season without any disruption. But also, during that period, the
ministry made efforts to speak with those in charge. We never got any
response.
“As we sit here, our league is on its deathbed. We know
the nature of our domestic league. And just yesterday (Wednesday) I got a
letter from the club owners. I met with them two weeks ago. I also met with
the female football leaders. There’s a letter that came on September 1, I only
got it yesterday stating clearly that they have numerous problems with the LMC
running the league. Unpaid emoluments, referees are not paid, coaches are not
paid.
“So, in May 2022, there was a presidential directive and as
a ministry, we applied reasonable judgment and delayed that communication. But
at a point when the league ended, and we saw the continuous decline of our
football, we thought it was the right time to take the necessary action. And
that was what we did. There’s no connection between that decision with the NFF
election, it stands alone.”
The minister added that the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) has received over N15 billion from the
Muhammadu Buhari
administration.
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