We’ve Taken NNL Super 4 To Another Level- Aluo
Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), Mr. George Aluo has expressed happiness with the level of competition at the ongoing Super 4, with a declaration that they’ve taken the tournament to another level.
Speaking shortly after matchday 2 of the championship, an elated Aluo noted that the world class stadiun, the ambiance of the tournament, impressive turnout of fans and good officiating is an indication that the league board has gotten it right just as he stated that he’s looking forward to the best team emerging the overall winner of the most important league in the country.
“As you can see, the tournament has been moving on successfully, the ambiance is very good, the stadium is world class and the best in the country after the ‘Next of Champions’ in Uyo.
“And when you talk of the playing turf, it’s fantastic and we’re happy that we took the Super 4 to a venue that’s good and the players are playing good football.
“Everything about the Super 4 is just fantastic and amazing. The turnout has been impressive, the officiating fantastic. The referees have done a very good job, they’re officiating under a relaxed atmosphere. So, putting all these together, I’m highly impressed that we’re having fun here at Remo Stars Stadium Ikenne”, he stressed.
On how the NNL under his leadership has been able to record successes, he attributed it to being firm and decisive in their decisions as well as the support from NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau.
” We did not do any magic to get to where we are today. The only thing going for us is that we’ve been strict in applying the rules. We have not allowed anybody to mess up the system and in doing this, we have gotten very massive support from NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau because when your leader gives you all the support you need, then you can go all the way to ensure that you deliver and am happy that we’re delivering
“When you look at the regular season before we got to where we’re today, we ensured that were on top of the situation and two ways ahead of any club that wanted to win by faul means. So, we created a level playing ground in all the conferences so that if you deserve to win on the road, you win and if you deserve to get a draw, you get it.
“With this, we ensured that nobody brought the league to disrepute, especially two to three games before the end of the league, we ensured we are on top of the situation and any move anybody wanted to make, we countered it
“We also ensured that officiating was top notch and even at some point, we brought in NPFL referees and even if we needed to change any referee, we did at the last minute which helped bring stability to the league and today we’re happy that four privately owned clubs were eventually promoted to the elite league for the very first time.
” What this tells us is that football is big business and you don’t win, if you don’t invest in the game and am happy that these private companies that invested in football, are getting dividends for their investment.
Aluo noted that there’s need to take the country’s football to the private sector and communities; saying that what Hon. Kunle Soname has done at Ikenne is a testament that it’s only through private investment in the country’s football that the game can grow.
“The truth of the matter, is that we need to take the game to the private sector and communities. Look at what Hon Soname has done in Ikenne. It’s not a government funded project. He has invested in football and this is the best facility in the country.
” Sporting Lagos is building their own facility in Lagos, Inter Lagos is also planning to do same, Doma is doing well and Sadiq Umar wants to replicate what he is doing in Europe in Ranchers Bees. So for us, it’s a very good development. It’s just for us to consolidate on where we are, moving forward
On the chances of the four promoted teams making a mark at the NPFL, Aluo expressed optimism that all the promoted clubs have the capacity, quality and experience to play in the top flight.
