By Victor Enyinnaya on June 2, 2016

Chief Coach of Enyimba International FC, Paul Aigbogun, has tasked the League Management Committee (LMC) never to lose its grip on the mandate for prompt payment of all entitlements to players and officials by NPFL clubs as it is the only way to consolidate on the improvements recorded in the ongoing championship and encourage fans to return to the arena.

The Nigeria CAF Champions League representatives’ gaffer said: “That step remains the short cut to the return of fans to the stadium, overall development spice with juicy packages which will quicken our spirited march to the Promised Land. Nothing must be spared in this regard. If any club fails to pick the bills of its players and officials, it should become too obvious that the owner is not ready to run a football team of any shape, and so must be sanctioned by way of expelling his team from the elite league. The era of child’s play in our leagues must be over for good.”

Aigbogun lent his voice to the view that it is not a matter of do or die for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to maintain a 20-team league structure. He insisted that only those that can do justice to the regular payment of their players, officials and pay other bills for their respective clubs must be given licence to operate.

“The era of that absolute nonsense of non-payment of players, coaches and sundry welfare packages must truly belong to the sad chapter of history. There should be no room for such man’s inhumanity to man in our new league any longer. The league has suffered enough setbacks which made it less attractive to even our players, not to talk of outsiders. I will join forces with people that advocate that even if it is like ten teams their financiers are willing to be prompt in their financial dealings to run their clubsides credibly well, so be it. It will make our league to be more effective, responsive and competitiveness. After all, in other climes what NPFL accommodates presently is even too windy. LMC, club owners and other stakeholders should sit back and ensure our league would be debt free by club owners,” he said.

On Enyimba and their opponents in the forthcoming group games in the CAF Champions League, Aigbogun told Daily Sports: “We are not afraid of any team in the group. We are preparing as a one untied family to frontally take on any side as they come. No team at this stage should be said to be an easy one. We in Enyimba are aware of the enormous task ahead and we are not relenting to fortify ourselves and also adopt a common strategy that we will all master inside-out for the battles onward.”

He disclosed that talks are ongoing with some players Enyimba have penciled down with a view to further fortifying the team. He assured that while playing in both the continent and the local league could take its toll on any team, Enyimba is ready for the challenges ahead.

His words: “We are ready. Don’t forget that preparation for championship of any magnitude is a continuous process. The management is doing well in terms of welfare for the team. In truth, the team is focused. The squad has depth and bench also. All we need is prayer and mother luck. Remember, Enyimba is still in Federation Cup race. We are not going lose sleep over any opponent, rather we will continue full concentration and focus coupled with zeal to conquer. It is not our way to under rate or over rate any side, rather we give respect and forge ahead with how to tackle every game decisively.”

•Photo shows Coach Paul Aigbogun.

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 2, 2016

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