By Daily Sports on October 24, 2016

If you are keen follower of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), organised by the League Management Company (LMC) the game is fast coming of age, which would be quick response to a distant observer.

This is based on how this year’s League improved in many spheres though not without some loosed decisions which nearly marred the game. However, lesser than the last season.

This article won’t border you mentioning the improved areas rather the conclusion is not totally out of place. I will rather add that in every emerging endeavour that heads to thrive, such positive signs of growth are seen early which gives the glimmer of hope for a brighter future if vigorously pursued to the letter.  Generally meant that there is great room for tremendous improve if peace and harmony anchored on the tenets of the sport is strictly followed and applied.

Let me make it clear that this write up would not box itself into whether the Shehu Dikko-led LMC has performed or not, the interest that arouse from the many calls and texts from readers pointing to some remarkable changes which prompted many clubs in the annual championship start repositioning for the next season as lesson in character.

Truth is that this column has thrived most on the constructive opinion from numerous readers across the country. They suggested this development among clubs in the upper league, it was also put to test and the response was great, hence it was crafted for the week.

Let me confess that it has really helped our course and convictions here. For instance, last week’s write up was one of the products readers of this column put forward and before you could finish saying on your marks, get set…go! 6,000 plus readers have viewed it. Such traffic of readers drives me glad but won’t beat my chest yet because the beast is yet to come.

You may not believe this, some people the bitter truth touched are not happy about it, but my happiness is that majority are and reading too.

I have long developed thick skin that adequately absorbs often accusations and counter accusations of being a sellout. When it did not favour them, you become one. I have sounded it now and then that, I don’t own any allegiance to any administrator rather to athletes, coaches and fans who are the reasons why there is administrator in each sport. Those things no longer make me grow grey hairs any longer. To be honest with you, such makes me happier and stronger instead. As l did say, oftentimes I enjoy where people send sms, gather to discuss and debate my candid exploits which last week’s topic generated enough.

Our focus this week is to highlight vividly, the competitiveness and attention our domestic league has attracted among club owners presently. Permit me to use ‘club owners’ for the purpose of this exercise. I never lose sight that states governments finance these teams which place big question mark on development of the league as compared to other climes.

The good thing about these robust rumbles in the clubs signified the level of competitiveness the League would witness in the incoming season. The financiers of these teams have boldly came out to express their reservations on the performances of their team not consummate with the huge funds allocated to the teams. This development no doubt is a plus for the NPFL in many ways. It has shown the level of awareness the competition has garnered since the reformation process that started way back Nduka Irabor days as LMC boss.

There will not likely be a weak side. The recruitment of players and coaches are currently ongoing underground. The movement is earth quaking when it will be made public which club grabs which coach or players. One believes that as the rumbling is on so will it attract heavy pay packets that associate with the game globally. We don’t need to look too far to know that NPFL clubs have been caught in the bug.

To pundits, commentators and bookmakers it is the best thing that has happened in the domestic scene. Quality players are likely to be trained in the league bringing out optimum, clout and reason worthy it.  The likelihood is that sponsors will be falling on themselves to get space in the anticipated lucrative NPFL.

This is where administrative acumen comes to play. The NPFL is presently under the watch of Shehu Dikko. On the face value, a complete gentleman. My fears have been those around him. However, he has one major option among others and that is, if he wants his name to be written in diamond he will dam anybody that may want to spoil his record even if such person is his mother. There are so many hawks around him as friends and members of this or that committee of the NPFL.

If he gets it right with the league leaving enduring legacies, pointers are he may become the next Nigeria Football Federation supremo. I digress.

Let’s leave this for the future. As at the time of putting this to bed, many clubs have either sacked their management board for under performance or outright re-engineering for greater heights next season. It is expected that many would follow. It is interesting to note that even the just promoted teams to the elite class of the league gave their teams marching orders for higher output in the incoming season. For instance, Governor Aminu Masari of Katisina State handed out the tall order to newly promoted Katisina United team. Where all these actions are tilting towards is teams would spend heavily in other to catch up with the tempo which would likely characterise the new season.

The other time Kano State government wielded the big stick on the management team of its Kano Pillars FC for low productivity and financial mismanagement. It would be recalled; the head coach earlier reigned from the team. Babaginda is heading six-member committee to oversee the activities of the team. I thought by now, EFCC would have picked up these people the government accused among other things fighting to share money released for the running of the team, players’ welfare and sundry.

From the scenario, it is sad that these people are walking freely in the Streets of Kano instead of cooling their heels in anti-graft agency via their dishonest acts, these people were told to go, even encouraged to continue to swindle the unsuspecting citizenry and government of Kano State. They were given the license go free and enjoy their loot. Haba!

Another team that held enough at the beginning of the recently concluded season is Akwa United FC. It is owned by Akwa Ibom State Government. It spent much to bring back some of her players from other football clubs across the country to lace their boots for the team, expectedly to boost her chances CAF Confederation Cup and finish respectably and strongly in the league, which never  stood the test of time. The team struggled to stay afloat at the end of the season finishing disappointingly. The star studded side cave in like pack of card in CAF championship.

It struggled throughout the season and managed to stay put in NPFL cadre. All the experienced players have long been shown the exit door, it was a clean sweep. They were the first casualties’ with one or two officials. Then came the bang few days back when the hammer fell on the technical hand, veteran gaffer Maurice Coleman and the other remaining coaches.

It has been operation sweep clean, the management led by our own Paul Bassey is hell bent in repositioning and making the team mobile and winning side too. Bassey it was scooped was in deep talks with Rangers Imama before the league champions, like an old fox outwitted him and handed a –two- year contract to Imama.

Now, talks are ongoing with coach Ogunbote, formerly of 3SC of Ibadan. We are keeping tabs on the development. Bassey it was learnt promised his principals of a better Akwa United team next season. The State government assured him of steady funds to carry out just that. He is also said to be in touch with hunger for success player than the vastly established stars and most experienced he claims ruined his side this out gone season.

Sunshine of Akure is also recouping heavily. The club has always fizzled out whenever the chips are down and such trend it was reliably gathered would be nipped on the bud come next season. They failed to renew the one year contract of veteran of many battles, Coach Solomon Ogbeide, signifying they are in deep search for a more viable hand.

Up there Niger Tornadoes management have done theirs and are poised to compete decisively in the incoming season. Many teams are following suit it is instructive to posit that many coaches have left their clubs on their own, waiting for better offers. First to do that was Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM FC of Lagos who cited poor condition of service and his option to look elsewhere after 10 years in the service of the team. However, there is unconfirmed report that he will handle the team next season despite his earlier decision to quit, efforts to reach him met stone wall. We will keep you posted. The last is yet to be heard of MFM FC, rumour mills have it that heads will roll even though its chairman, Godwin Enakhena retained his seat, but the proprietor of the team, harped on every need to imbibe discipline in the entire fabric of the team from head to toe as the only platform that would enable them harness their hidden potentials and make their mark and steadily be consistently in the ever competitive league. Plateau’s Baraje also left and so forth. Before one could say Usain Bolt, very hard work coach of Wikki Tourists, Abdu Maikaba that guided the Bauchi side to third place finish and CAF Confederation Cup ticket threw in the towel on the premise that he is leaving for greener pastures. However, unconfirmed report has it he is discussing with Kano Pillars.

In the next month’s more will go and by that period too where they will be pitching their tents to will also start to be clearer. Enyimba is yet to say anything after rounding off the season on a disappointing note.

The most humiliating, window dressing and face saving measure came from very controversial  Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who just woke up to know there is a football Club in the state. Shamefully, it is the same Okorocha that served as an undertaker of Heartland. Now, he is rallying for who. His action is based on falsehood. He is a pretender of the highest order. After destroying the team he never knew how it has been sustained since 1976 till he squandered it in one fell swoop.  He sacked the management and coaching crew according to him, a move to ensure the club won’t tarry in lesser division of the league.

The Owerri-based FC close watchers attributed that as lame duck from equally a lame duck Governor that learns nothing, and forgets nothing.  Truth being that Okorocha does not know how past governors of the state laboured to sustain the legacy he suddenly wasted.  In this page, I did raise an alarm bell that Heartland is going, going, gone months before the expected happened.

A recap, since 1976 the State was created and the club formed as Spartans it maintained strong presence in the Nigerian league arena as one of the top side to reckon with. It never tasted action in the lower league until now Okorocha betrayed the founding fathers of the State. No sentiment or jokes, most performed governor of old Imo State, Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe of the blessed memory would be turning in his grave seeing his Spartans FC (Heartland), struggling from Nigeria National League. It is how Okorocha reduced governance of the State to. One of the traditions of Imo State has been sadly lowered and unmasked in the public. It is an insult to collective sense of the people of the state. The only legacy that makes them happy. It remains the shame of Okorocha. In short, it a plague that would hunt everywhere he goes. He has murdered sleep in Imo State and must sleep no more.

Imo State fans take solace in watching top flight NPFL games in Dan Anyiam Stadium, to forget overwhelming sufferings the Governor visited on the people of the State. I did say in my last article when this once upon a time solid championship stuff team was gradually loosing guide, strength and bite, installmentally being drowned that the governor does not know the things that made Imo State thick and united as people which was why he took delight in underfunding the team.

This football team is one of them. He has nothing good coming out from him for almost eight years; he has destroyed the fabrics of the State and must be ready to bear the consequences. The youths are not happy with his style of governance which they have often complained to the high heavens.

The thrust of this write is that the interest and passion for the NPFL is gathering memento by the day. One prays this would translate into huge crowd followership. The traditional teams like Rangers, 3SC, Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Rivers United, Plateau United etc would no doubt garner such as LMC grows the league. The presence of quality players and coaches that over these years’ fans have come to see as idols would also add gritty, pipe, hold and colour to the championship on its wings to regain its lost glory.

Head or tail, it is not yet hurrah for the league. Much work still needs to be done on the part of LMC, the clubs and fans to give this game enough sharper teeth to bite resoundingly. We are moving on steadily, collectively, with honest of purpose believing vehemently in fair play, one game, one goal! Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 24, 2016

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