Baribote stands by NPL kick-off date

CHAIRMAN of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Victor Baribote, has maintained that there would not be a change to weekend's kick-off of the new season despite complaints by the clubs.Many of the clubs have kicked against the start of the 20-team championship, arguing that the time has been too short for them to prepare for the new season soon after the end of the previous campaign. However, Baribote told MTNFootball.com that the league would roll out as scheduled this weekend in Port Harcourt.'Clubs would always complain. But I want to appeal to them to take the NPL serious for once because any club which decides to shun the league's kick-off date would be doing that at its own peril,' the Bayelsa United boss warned.'Everyone was at the congress and it was unanimously agreed that the league kicked off on January 7and with the NFF Congress ratifying that decision at the last congress, I wonder why any club should threaten to shun the league kick-off.'League champion, Dolphin, will host Sunshine Stars on the opening day of the new season. The Port Harcourt club beat Sunshine to the league title last season. Nine other matches will be played across the country on Sunday.Jigawa Golden Stars of Dutse, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, Rising Stars of Akure and Akwa United of Uyo are the four clubs promoted to the Nigerian top flight while JUTH, Crown FC, Zamfara United and Plateau United were relegated.
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