NPL: October kick-off unlikely

THE October date set by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for the commencement of the 2012/13 season, may not be realistic afterall.Also, the Annual General Congress of the NPL earlier scheduled for October 2 will not go on as planned.Chairman of the league board, Victor Baribote had on September 7, the day the 2011/12 season ended, said that the board was working towards ensuring the new season begins this October.However, officials of the league organising body have disclosed that the planned kickoff of the new season next month is no more feasible.This may not be unconnected with the order by the Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi, directing the NPL board to hold on until all matters relating to the league are settled.Top on this is the sponsorship crisis which has plagued the league for the past few years.The minister, according to source is bent on ensuring that the new season does not start without a title sponsor and has charged the NPL as well as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resolve the issue before the new season gets underway.An official of the NPL board who confirmed the latest development said the board had decided to hang on until all cases are resolved even as he added that a new date will soon be announced for the congress.''A situation where the league cannot pay the indemnities of the match officials and they are still owing clubs for paying such monies last season is not healthy for our football, hence the minister's insistence on the settlement of the sponsorship crisis,'' stated the source.The board, according to information has concluded plans to hold a meeting with the prospective sponsors, willing to sign a short-term deal for the title rights of the league.
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