January 13, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, has announced that the body is working to change the face of the league.
In a move that has been met with approval from Nigerian football fans, each of the 20 clubs in the NPFL has been given a N10 million take-off grant. Speaking with The Guardian, Elegbeleye said that the IMC would be implementing all the necessary mechanisms to put the league in good shape.
In addition to the grant, the IMC has also announced a change in the scheduling of matches for the three NPFL clubs based in the Southeast. The matches will now kick off at 3:00pm on Sundays. A statement from the IMC directed all NPFL clubs to comply with the new fixture adjustments.
Additionally, the IMC has lifted the ban on Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), allowing fans to attend matches at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. The ban had been put in place last season due to repeated violent incidents involving attacks on match officials and club players and officials at the stadium.
A memo circulated to clubs and signed by IMC’s Head of Operations, Davidson Owumi, reads, “Please be informed that effective from the MatchDay 1 fixtures scheduled to hold on January 14 and 15, 2023, all weekend fixtures holding in the Southeastern part of the country will now kickoff at 3:00 pm on Sundays. All clubs, officials and related stakeholders are hereby put on notice.”
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
