All is now set for the commencement of this year's Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) Championship League  Play- off ( Super 6) which is slated for Saturday, June 3- Sunday, June,11 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena formerly known as Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

Disclosing this during a press conference and draws for the championship, Chairman of the League Management Committee, Gbenga Elegbeleye said that all the six teams participating in the championship namely; Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars, Rivers United, Remo Stars and Sunshine Stars are fully prepared to entertain fans at the weeklong competition which will be played on a round robin basis.

According to him, the League Management Committee has brought some level of sanity to the league with referees allowances and indemnity not only increased but paid before any league match which has affected the level of officiating positively.

"The Super 6 will enable us decide the real champion of the League and we've put all logistics on ground for a successful tournament and we promise to give all teams a level playing ground that has been witnessed in our league recently.

" You'll agree with me that the league has gotten some level of sanity because our partnership with GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited  has ensured that referees allowances, transportation, accommodation, feeding and other indemnity apart from being increased by fifty percent are now paid on time. 

" This has assured improved officiating which made it possible for us to now witness many away wins which was almost impossible in the past. We've also made sure that any team whose fans are involved in assaulting referees or pitch invasion have three points deducted from them  and this also helped in curbing hooliganism in our match venues and we'll continue to apply the rules and sanctions whenever the need arises.

Chief Operating Officer of the League Davidson Owumi explained that all the teams will play five matches while there will be rest days in between the matches noting that they hope that at the end of the day the best three teams that will represent the country at CAF organised competitions will emerge.

Executive Director of GTI, Nelson Ine said his organisation is happy partnering the NPFL to reposition the local league positing that the plan of his company is to ensure that the country's domestic league is at per with other major leagues in the world 

The draw shows that Enyimba FC of Aba will face Remo Stars in the first match of the day starting by 2pm while it will be the  turn of Sunshine Stars of Akure and Rivers United slated for 4pm with the Day 1 last match between Bendel Insurance and Lobi Stars coming up at 6pm.

Sunday, June 4, will be observed as rest day while action continues in the same venue on Monday, June, 5.

Highlights of the draws were the unveiling of new NPL logo.

Overall winner of the Super 6 will be crowned the 2022/2023 League champion and will take home the sum of N100million and a trophy

Elegbeleye commends GTI for laying transparent football ecosystem

Strategic partner to the Nigeria Premier League ( NPFL) , GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited has received commendations from the Chairman of Interim Committee of the NPFL, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for their commitment to laying a strong foundation and transparent football ecosystem in the country using the Nigeria Football Trust Fund (TNFF) as the vehicle in achieving the laudable dream.

He stated this during the unveiling of the new NPL logo and the NPFL championship Play- off draws in Lagos on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Elegbeleye recalled that the NPFL championship Play- off otherwise known as Super 6 will see the best of Nigerian League football on display as the six teams will trade tackles in a round- robin format beginning from June, 3-11 and affirmed that the event will see the return of massive football celebration in the Centre of Excellence especially on the side of the winning team who will be returning home with the sum of N100million and the trophy.

Complimenting Elegbeleye's statement, the GMD of GTI Group, Abubakar Lawal affirmed that the company is employing every best international practice to give Nigerian football the desired break through.

" GTI is committing lots of material and financial resources towards ensuring that NPFL enjoys robust financial support in order to become self-sustaining with necessary resources to ensure transparency in all it's dealings with investors, sponsors and other partners.

" We in GTI are proud to associate with the Nigerian Premier League in the execution of this project and we hope Nigerian football will grow from strength to strength going forward following the unveiling of the new NPL logo", Lawal said.

Head of Operations of LMC, Davidson Owumi acknowledged that expectations are high from Nigerian football fans, promising they won't disappoint.

" We're aware that expectations are very high and that's why we hit the ground running using the current abridged league as a test case and ensuring that we put in all necessary measures to uphold transparency; for example, indemnities of match officials and other critical stakeholders connected to the league are being administered seamlessly, using international best practices as our guide.

"As an organization, we are strongly committed to a very transparent football ecosystem which is the best way to restore confidence in our sponsors and investors", he said.

Owumi called on investors and stakeholders to key into the TNFF project and stakeholders of football in Nigeria to embrace GTI strategy of taking our beautiful game to the next level.

"NPFL is an asset that belongs to Nigerians and the effort of GTI at this stage is to encourage more Nigerians to become unit holders as early as possible to mop up the remaining units of the N5.0 billion that is expected to be raised through the funds. We wish the two teams luck in the championship Play- off", Owumi concluded.