THOSE who love to describe the English Premier Football League as 'the best of the British' were vindicated, when this year's Premiership League yet again delivered arguably the world's most publicised, best widely followed, most flawless, by far the most exciting climax. Not only was it full of suspense and great excitement, the league, till the very last second, presented an unpredictable finish in the competition's rich history, spanning a century and a half.Measured against other top professional leagues around the world, such as Spain's Primera Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga, and the Portuguese League, the organizers of the Barclays English Premiership League (EPL), have never had it so good. The league offered myriad of lessons in organization, competence, business and entertainment.Whereas all the other top leagues around the world, except Italy's Serie A, produced run-away winners, as there was not any doubt which club would emerge winners, even with many matches to go; no one could predict where the final pendulum of victory in the EPL would swing to.The two teams from the city of Manchester ' defending champions Manchester United, and the then reigning FA Cup kings Manchester City, must take the credit for tearing away from the rest of the title- pursuers, such that the coveted trophy was always bound for either the Red half of the City (Old Trafford Reds), or the blue half (the sky-blue of Manchester City). But the other teams played their part in making the competition most memorable.The clubs did not sit around feeling sorry for themselves; nor were they resigned to just watching the front row tussle. Rather, they vied strongly for the next positions, and by extension, qualification for European competitions. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs, for instance, were also locked in last-second, must-win situation to secure an automatic berth for the next Champions League.It was City, which had been dubbed 'our noisy neighbours' by United's Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who showed early promise of a great ending when it led for much of the season, during which they hammered their neighbours 6-1, right at the fabled 'Theatre of Dreams' also known as Old Trafford, in front of their 75,811 fans.But just when most fans expected City to go on to easily win their first league title since 1968 (44 years back), their more experienced neighbours rallied with an incredible winning streak, which coincided with a seeming implosion from the Blues half. During this stretch, United caught up with City and thereafter led by as many as eight points, with the 'final straight' in sight.The incredible scenes, which marked the home stretch, was just beginning however, as City stayed close by winning their subsequent matches, while United uncharacteristically went into a slump, climaxed by giving away two precious points in an unlikely 4-4 draw at Old Trafford to Everton after leading 4-2 with just nine minutes to go.United's profligacy proved costly as City closed in further, and when skipper Vincent Kompany's headed corner kick goal separated the two neighbours in the all-important reverse fixture at the City of Manchester Stadium, the two clubs were tied, which meant it had become the Blues' title to lose, since they then enjoyed a massive eight goals differential over the 'Red Devils.'Even then, the 'battle' was far from over. With each side needing to win their last match of the season, the stage was set for the most dramatic ending to any premiership season. Never had the title been decided by goals difference.On the last match-day, all matches were played simultaneously. United won its match 1-nil against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, and their players watched with interest the breathtaking closing moments of the other all-or-nothing match between hosts City and relegation-threatened QPR. They witnessed through large video monitors, how a 'hopeful' 2-1 lead by QPR (in Man Utd's perspective) turned to one of disbelief and utter despair, when City scored in the 92nd and 94th minutes to snatch a 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat, in a match in which a draw was not enough. For City, of course, it was despair turned to utter delirium.There was never a more nerve wreacking finish anywhere.As the victors enjoy their 'day in the sun' and the runners-up lick their 'wounds,' what has always been evident in the success of the EPL is the separation of powers between the FA and the EPL body, with the former never lording it over the latter.Football in the civilised world is now such big business that it is left to private bodies to run, free from governmental influence. The developing countries could learn from this.No boardroom points were ever awarded to any of the teams in EPL, as matches were decided only on the field of play. There is transparency and fair play, as evidenced by all the games being played at the same time on the last day. In England, as in most of the other top leagues in the world, home advantage nowadays counts for little, because there is no propensity by match officials to favour the home sides, perhaps as a form of 'self- preservation.'Competition for places in the world's wealthiest league, according to Deloitte, a world renowned accounting firm, is so much that the gap between non-league teams and the Premiership has narrowed considerably. The three clubs (Swansea, Norwich City and QPR) which were promoted to the Premiership last season, all survived; as Bolton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn, were relegated, to make way for three freshly promoted ones ' Reading, West Ham, and Southhampton.Going by popularly-held opinion of experts, including Brazil's Pele, a country's national team is only as good as its local league. Nigeria's football league organisers can take a cue or two from the success of the EPL.
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