₦airaland Forum

3SC 1-1 Dolphins FC
Ocean Boys 1-1 Enyimba
Sharks 0-0 Warri Wolves
Gombe United 1-2 Niger Tornadoes

Well I'll be damned, someone won on the road, thought that was illegal in the NPL

Executive Secretary of Nigeria Premier League, NPL, Alhaji Alhassan Yakmut has called on other clubs to break their over dependence on government sponsorship by emulating the good example set by Lobi Stars of Makurdi which recently embraced the  privatization message of the premier league board.

Before the commencement of the ongoing season, the government of Benue State which was the sole sponsor of Lobi Stars FC sold out sixty percent of the club to a private company and is now left with only forty percent control over the club.

Speaking to Trustsports yesterday in Abuja, Yakmut cited the development in Lobi Stars as a positive response to what the league board has been preaching concerning private sector participation in the running of the premier league clubs.

Yakmut explained that a transition programme of two years has been fashioned out to ease government out of direct involvement in the running of the clubs just as he added that at the expiration of the two years, the league board would have been able to arrive at a consensus where by one central law can determine the position of a club in the strata of affairs.

Yakmut therefore noted that already there is light at the end of the dark tunnel as he maintained that the step recently taken by the Benue State government is one in the right direction and must be copied by other states.

He said “already Benue State has taken the lead. Sixty percent of Lobi has been sold out. Government is holding only forty percent. This is the kind of partnership we want government to have with the private sector and that is the area we are emphasizing”

He said that over dependence on state government for funding has continued to slow down the progress of the clubs because most times, such governments do not respond in time to the needs of the clubs.

“Government involvement in the day to day running of the league is too much. It is so much that we cannot run them professionally. The clubs are still within the dictates of their local laws rather than professionalism”.

Yakmut attributed some of the financial problems of clubs to late release of funds by the respective government, a development which he said has always made it difficult for clubs to fulfill their contractual agreement with their players and coaches.

The NPL Executive Secretary therefore reiterated that the sooner other state governments emulate the good example set by the Benue State, the better for the league as he maintained that with its privatization, Lobi Stars would certainly be spared some of the bureaucratic bottlenecks that confront clubs when it comes to release of funds to them.

WEEK 2 
 Saturday 26th September, 2009
 11  Gombe Utd FC      Vs  Niger Tornadoes FC
 12  Sharks FC  Vs  Warri Wolves FC
 13  Kwara United FC  Vs  Kano Pillars FC
 14  Ocean Boys FC  Vs  Enyimba Int’l FC
          
  
 Sunday 27th September, 2009
 15  Shooting Stars FC      Vs  Dolphin FC
 16  Lobi Stars FC  Vs  Wikki Tourists FC
 17  Kaduna Utd FC  Vs  Sunshine stars FC
 18  Rangers Int’l FC  Vs  Ranch Bees FC
 19  Heartland FC  Vs  Bayelsa United FC
 20  Zamfara United FC  Vs  Gateway Utd FC

http://naijaligue..com/2009/09/npl-approves-four-stadia-for-glo-league.html

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has given four stadia the final approval to play host to this season’s Globacom Premier League, which kicked off last Sunday across the country. According to a letter from the Premier League board dated September 18 and signed by its Head of Competition, Tunji Babalola, the four stadia are the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi and M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. This development means that only the venues of six clubs have been given final approval for the ongoing season. Dolphins Football Club, Sharks Football Club, Kano Pillars, Wikkii Tourists and Gateway Football Club are those whose venues have been given final approval for the season. The sixth club, Niger Tornadoes, has decided to play its home games at the Sani Abacha Stadium, the home of 2007/2008 champion, Kano Pillars. However, 13 grounds have been given provisional clearance to play host to the Globacom Premier League till Week 5 of the ongoing season. The grounds given provisional approval are Ilorin Township Stadium, Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, Abakaliki Township Stadium, Akure Township Stadium, Liberty Stadium in Ibadan and Sardauna Memorial Stadium in Gusau. Others are Kaduna Township Stadium, Abubakar Umar Stadium in Gombe, Oghara Township Stadium in Delta, Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and Oleh Township Stadium in Delta. “The provisional approval given to the identified stadia ends after Week 5. The NPL, however, enjoins the affected clubs to choose from designated stadia for the Under-17 World Cup to be hosted by Nigeria,” the letter from the Premier League board read. The designated stadia from which clubs affected by the provisional arrangement are to choose from include the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Abuja National Stadium, Sani Abacha Stadium, Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadiumin Enugu, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Ijebu-Ode International Stadium and U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar. Clubs that may likley change their home grounds are Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Heartland Football Club, Enyimba, Sunshine Stars, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Zamfara United, Gombe United, Bayelsa United, Ocean Boys and Warri Wolves. However, Enugu Ranger as well as the two Kaduna-based clubs, Ranchers Bees and Kaduna United, would be returning to familiar terrain. The Kaduna clubs would return to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium while Rangers would take over the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium after several months of playing its home games in either Nnewi or Abakaliki.

My apologies for not posting this on Sunday, but my posting privileges were revoke for the weekend (not sure why).

1 Ranch Bees FC PSTP Gombe Utd FC (Gombe were in WAFU Cup play)
2 Gateway Utd FC 1 - 1 Kwara Utd FC
3 Dolphin FC 1 - 1 Ocean Boys FC
4 Wikki Tourists FC 2 - 1 Kaduna Utd FC
5 Enyimba Int’l FC 0 - 0 Lobi Stars FC
6 Sunshine stars 2 - 1 Rangers Int’l FC
7 Warri Wolves FC 5 - 0 Zamfara Utd FC

table available at the official website of the league: http://www.nigeriapremierleague.com

Oh BTW, Sunday September 20th is opening day

The week one schedule:

16:00 Ranchers Bees Vs Gombe United Kaduna T'ship Stad.
16:00 Gateway FC Vs Kwara United MKO Abiola Stad.
16:00 Dolphin FC Vs Ocean Boys Liberation Stad. PH
16:00 Wikki Tourist Vs Kaduna FC A. T. Balewa Stad.
16:00 Enyimba Int'l Vs Lobi Stars Enyimba Int'l Stad
16:00 Sunshine Stars Vs Rangers Int'l Akure T. Stadium
16:00 Warri Wolves Vs Zamfara United Warri T'ship Stad.

The following matches have been rescheduled for September 30th due to CAF commitments:

 Niger Tornadoes FC     Vs  Heartland FC           
 Kano Pillars FC  Vs  Shooting Stars FC
 Bayelsa United FC  Vs  Sharks FC

They won 3-2, qualified for the semis

Lright, this took some serious digging but I found the fixtures list for the first five rounds (season kicks off September 19):

WEEK ONE
Kano Pillars v Shooting Stars
Ranchers Bees v Gombe United
Niger Tornadoes v Heartland FC
Bayelsa United v Sharks
Warri Wolves v Zamfara United
Gateway FC v Kwara United
Dolphins v Ocean Boys
Enyimba Int’l v Lobi Stars
Wikki Tourists v Kaduna United
Sunshine Stars v Rangers Int’l

WEEK TWO
Shooting Stars v Dolphins
Gombe United v Niger Tornadoes
Heartland FC v Bayelsa United
Sharks v Warri Wolves
Zamfara United v Gateway FC
Kwara United v Kano Pillars
Ocean Boys v Enyimba Int’l
Lobi Stars v Wikki Tourists
Kaduna United v Sunshine Stars
Rangers Int’l v Ranchers Bees

WEEK THREE
Enyimba Int’l v Shooting Stars
Niger Tornadoes v Ranchers Bees
Bayelsa United v Gombe United
Warri Wolves v Heartland FC
Gateway FC v Sharks
Kano Pillars v Zamfara United
Dolphins v Kwara United
Wikki Tourists v Ocean Boys
Sunshine Stars v Lobi Stars
Kaduna United v Rangers Int’l

WEEK FOUR
Shooting Stars v Wikki Tourists
Ranchers Bees v Bayelsa United
Gombe United v Warri Wolves
Heartland FC v Gateway FC
Sharks v Kano Pillars
Zamfara United v Dolphins
Kwara United v Enyimba Int’l
Ocean Boys v Sunshine Stars
Lobi Stars v Kaduna United
Rangers Int’l v Niger Tornadoes

WEEK FIVE
Sunshine Stars v Shooting Stars
Bayelsa United v Niger Tornadoes
Warri Wolves v Ranchers Bees
Gateway FC v Gombe United
Kano Pillars v Heartland FC
Dolphins v Sharks
Enyimba Int’l v Zamfara United
Wikki Tourists v Kwara United
Kaduna United v Ocean Boys
Lobi Stars v Rangers Int’l

@Dis Guy

The leading scorer was Akaranout Orok of Akwa United (has since moved to CSF Cxafien) with a record tying 17

From the "How do we get our cut if they get it first?" department:

http://www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=10403


NPL, GLO IN FACE-OFF OVER MONEY

Posted: 2009-08-14 19:02

A public spat has broken out between the Nigerian Premier League and sponsors Glo over the disbursement of N9-million in appearance fees and prize-money for next week’s season-opening Super Four tournament.

The NPL have been irked by Glo’s decision to disburse the payments directly to the four participating clubs, and chairman Oyuiki Obaseki has publicly declared that the situation is unacceptable.
 
“Globacom as the sponsor of the event does not have the absolute right to carry out directly the payment for appearance fees and prize-money to teams participating in the 2009 edition of the Glo Super 4 on our behalf,” Obaseki declared in typically uncompromising style.
 
According to him, Globacom Limited are the sponsors of the Globacom Premier League while Nigeria Premier League are the sole organisers of the League.
 
“It is the statutory responsibility of the Nigeria Premier League, the organiser of the Glo Super 4 Cup, to handle the procedure of payment. From inception, NPL has always been paying appearance fees of N500 000 per club, including free accommodation, with the winners getting N5-million and runners-up getting N3-million as prize-money.”
 
This year, Glo decided to change the format by upping the appearance fees to N1-million, but slashing the prize-money to N3-million for the winners and N1.5-million for the runners-up. They also chose to pay the monies directly to the clubs.
 
That change has drawn the ire of the NPL hierarchy and sent Obseki on the warpath.
“The format is ridiculous and tends to bring the league to disrepute, placing us in a retrogressive position rather than progressive,” he said.
 
Obaseki also made it clear that the situation will not be accepted by the NPL.
 
“Glo’s payment format will not be acceptable and NPL will revert to the old payment format with winner getting N5 million, runners-up N3 million and the appearance fee at N1 million per club,” the chairman declared.
 
The Super Four takes place at the Ilorin Township Stadium from August 18 to 22 and will be followed by the League Awards Gala.
 
Champions Baylesa United will be joined by runners-up Heartland, Enyimba and Warri Wolves.

Akwa United FC: Another Probe Panel Set-up

Nigerian Football Administrators have a familiar way of handling serious probe issues in the country. This familiar way is by setting up panels to carry out unending investigations, especially when findings of the earlier panels have indicted certain power-brokers. The probe panels set-up to investigate Akwa United FC protest are no exceptions to such investigations.

It would be remembered that Akwa United's management led by Hon. Isong Isang sent a protest letter to the board of the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, demanding the local league regulatory body to investigate the circumstances leading to Zamfara United FC, a relegation bound club, achieving the near impossible 9-0 whipping of a highly rated Kaduna United FC in their last globacom premier league match. This goal margin would not have raised any eyebrows had the JUTH FC not defeated Akwa Unit FC 2-0 in their last match.

Before the first panel sitting, two players who had earlier confessed to some untoward deals taking place during the match between the two clubs in Zamfara State had made a u-turn. They had earlier confessed that each of the players of Kaduna United FC was paid N20,000 before the match, which was something usual. However, these players have made a sudden volte-face and said they never said anything like that happened. What they are now singing is that they were influenced by the promise made to them by Akwa United to pay the balance of their sign-on fees owed them by Kaduna United FC, in addition to a new and juicy contract with the Uyo based club, next football season.

A stalwart of the of the Kaduna United FC, who is also very influential in NPL, said he was falsely accused of match fixing by the management of Akwa United FC simply because he rejected the bribe money of N3 million given to them by Akwa United's management to fix the match in their favour.

This confession is indeed an interesting episode, which poses so many questions: Why did this stalwart in the Kaduna United FC not raise this alarm before the match was played, that Akwa United FC management was trying to bribe them, but waited till this moment? Why were Kaduna United players paid N20,000 each before the match, which was not a common feature of the club? Why did the two players change their statements? Why did the two goal-keepers of the Kaduna United FC red-carded during the match, thus paving the way for a player not trained in goal-keeping to man the post? Why is the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, setting up another panel to investigate the same conspicuous matter? Why did Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, not take a decision on this matter during its just concluded annual general meeting? What is the possibility of Akwa United getting justice in this matter? What is the assurance that the new panel will come out with findings before the next globacom premier league season slated to begin on August 29, 2009? What is the guarantee that the panel's members will carry out their investigations and come out with acceptable out-comes without minding on whose toes they step?

A critical appraisal of all the questions above should reveal quite a lot. The management of Akwa United FC, led by its amiable chairman, Hon. Isong Isang, should not go to sleep yet. Mr. Patrick Ekong, the South-South representative on the board of NFF should not take it as a done-deal yet. The Hon. Commissioner for Sports, Mr. John Harry, should do everything humanly possible to bring Akwa United FC back to play in the elite and lucrative league. The ability of the Honourable Commissioner to achieve this feat will be the benchmark to measure his success in the sports' ministry, and be extension, future appointments into other positions of authorities in the State.

Saving Akwa United FC from relegation will also lesson the burden of the Commissioner in his effort to curb youth's restiveness, their criminal tendencies, reduce unemployment rate and eliminate all forms of bad behaviour exhibited by youths in the State. This is so, since Akwa United FC is a darling team of the youths of the State, which gives them happiness, besides the economic gains they derive during matches. Hon. John Harry should reach out to his predecessors in the Ministry of Sports, particularly, Dr. Chris Ekong, who was able to accomplish that feat of securing the promotion for Akwa United from National professional league to globacom premier league in 2006.

The football loving Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio, “the promise keeper” and his Deputy, His Excellency, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, “the man of goodwill”, should please give maximum supports to the Sports Ministry and the Board and Management of Akwa United FC to ensure that justice in this matter is not only seen to be done, but to be actually done.

Other stakeholders of the Akwa United FC, including corporate bodies, should rally round to secure justice for the club.

Nothing will make people of the State happier than to see Akwa United FC remain and continue to play in the globacom premier league in the coming football season.
The millions of football fans of Akwa United FC, including the Ex-Governor, Obong Victor Attah, who was on the saddle of the State in 2006 when Akwa United FC gained promotion to the elite league, and was said to have jumped up to the ceiling hearing the news of the promotion of the club, are so sad now. This is because if Akwa United FC stands relegated, they would no longer see the likes of Rangers of Enugu, Enyimba of Aba, 3SC of Ibadan and Heartland of Owerri, come to play their matches in Akwa Ibom State again. We should not miss this rear opportunity, especially as no other club from the State is playing in the Nigeria-globacom premier league.

NPL Names Glo League XI

By SportsDay Reporter on 13 August 2009 - 12:09am OTHER SPORTS WORLD

Three players each from champions Bayelsa United and runners-up Heartland FC have been named in the Globacom Premier League All Star XI ahead of next week’s Awards Gala in Ilorin.

Bayelsa United goalkeeper Bassey Akpan is joined by team mates Chibuzor Okonkwo and Bernard Okorowanta in the league’s outstanding performer’s team.

From Heartland come the effervescent Stanley Okoro, rock-solid ThankGod Ike and left back Joseph Eyimofe. Deposed champions Kano Pillars supplied two players led by the impressive Solomon Okpako.

Warri Wolves, Akwa United and Sunshine Stars threw up a player apiece.
The Awards Gala will be held at Ilorin on August 22.

Globacom Premier League Best XI

Goalkeeper: Bassey Akpan (GK/Bayelsa United),

Defenders: Chibuzor Okonkwo (FB/Bayelsa), Joseph Eyimofe (FB/Heartland), ThankGod Ike (CD/Heartland), Abdulwasiu Sowemimo (CD/Kano Pillars);

Midfielders: Solomon Okpako (DM/Kano Pillars), Bernard Okorowanta (AM/Bayelsa United), Mike Okoyo (LM/Warri Wolves), Stanley Okoro (RM/Heartland);

Forwards: Akarandut Orok (FW/Akwa United), Ibrahim Babale (FW/Sunshine Stars)

Coach:Monday Odigie (Bayelsa United)

The draw in full
Group A : Nigeria, Germany, Honduras, Argentina
Group B : Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland
Group C : Iran, Gambia, Colombia, Netherlands
Group D : Turkey, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, New Zealand
Group E : UAE, Malawi, Spain, USA
Group F : Uruguay, Korea Republic, Algeria, Italy

Either August 30 or September 19 (I've seen both dates, )

Enyimba just won't let it go,

http://www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=10026

Federation Cup champions Enyimba on Monday wrote to the NFF asking to be entered into next season's CAF Confederations Cup as League third place finishers.

The decision by Enyimba, following a board meeting last week, will be sure to embarrass the NFF, who stirred nationwide controversy by handing the slot to Warri Wolves ahead of Federation Cup runners-up Sharks.

Wolves finished fourth in the League.

Enyimba Media Officer Tonnex Chukwu was however quick to point out that the decision should not be seen in that light, "We are not trying to embarrass the NFF," he told KickOffNigeria.com.

"The situation is that the Enyimba board believes that we should be able to determine which route is best for us to enter the competition, and they decided to choose the League," Chukwu said.

[center]Nigeria: Wrong People Are Running Country's Football - Ezeugo[/center]

Philips Adefioye24 July 2009

Group Stage Pillars drew ZESCO United of Zambia 1 all on July 18.

They play Al Merreikh of Sudan on August 2.

This years results: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nigcup09.html