NPFL 2023 Season: We have empowered Refs to be fair and firm -Elegbeleye

December 28, 2022

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By George Aluo

Chairman of the nation’s league interim management committee, Gbenga Elegbeleye is confident the 2023 season which gets underway January 8 would be well officiated by the men in black.

Elegbeleye who spoke during the draw of the abridged league in Abuja on Wednesday said with the referees would be well motivated to deliver on the pitch.

He disclosed that the refs would get their match indemnities before every game, thanks to a sponsorship deal that has been sealed by the IMC.

In his words…”We have secured a sponsor to foot the indemnities of match officials for the next three years, with the payments to be done directly from the company to the appointed match officials.

“We are committed to eradicating the malaise of indebtedness to match officials, which compromises them and lowers their morale to do the right thing.”

President of NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau on his part commended the Interim Management Committee for its efforts to reposition the League, following the conduct of the Draw for the new Season in Abuja on Wednesday.

At the colourful ceremony held inside the press conference hall of the Sandralia Hotel, the 20 NPFL teams were calibrated into two different groups for the purpose of the abridged League season, already approved by the NFF.

Gusau further assured the committee of his support.

“The NFF will continue to provide the necessary support to the IMC to fulfill its terms of reference in flying colours,” Gusau said.

He was represented at the event by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Mr. Ademola Olajire.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola.

In a bid to make the league more attractive, the IMC announced an increase in the money the winners would be pocketing.

“The IMC has also increased the winner’s prize for the season to the sum of N 100 Million, which is a hundred percent increase on what was in place previously,” Elegbeleye disclosed.

The Draw Ceremony grouped the 20 teams into two pools of A and B, with Matchday 1 set for 8th January 2023.

GROUP A

Kwara United

Nasarawa United

Plateau United

Gombe United

El-Kanemi Warriors

Enyimba FC

Akwa United

Bendel Insurance

Shooting Stars

Remo Stars