Will Name Change Improve Nigeria League?

•Football action in the final of the last Federation Cup between Hertland of Owerri and Lobi Stars of Markudi. PHOTO… Emmanuel Osodi

•Football action in the final of the last Federation Cup between Hertland of Owerri and Lobi Stars of Markudi. PHOTO... Emmanuel Osodi

“Change of name doesn’t really mean anything to me. I think the best thing now is that we can start afresh and with the new management, we hope to see some innovations from the leadership of the league since the officials are very much aware of the problems of the out gone system”, the above were the opinion of the General Manager of ABS FC of Ilorin, while responding to the name change of the Nigeria Premier League, NPL to Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

The League Management Committee, LMC decided to change the name of the Nigerian League, from NPL to NPFL. Stakeholders are however divided  in their reactions to the name change.

Some of the stakeholders are of the view that the name change does not mean it would not be business as usual, where the ‘win at home’ syndrome would not come to fore.

After series of postponement, the league is expected to kick off on 9 March yet the problems that have bedeviled the league are still left unattended to.

Should the league suffer another postponement, it would automatically enter into history books as the oldest break that any league has had. The League has been off for six months.

Apart from the ‘win at home’ syndrome, the LMC failed to address other teething issues like the security of match officials and that of visiting teams to avoid replay of incidences that had characterised the League.

Some of the stakeholders are of the view that the name change does not mean it would not be business as usual, where the ‘win at home’ syndrome would not come to fore in league matches.

After series of postponement, the league is expected to kick off on 9 March, yet the problems that have bedeviled the league are still left unattended to.

Should the league suffer another postponement, it would automatically enter into history books as the oldest break that any league has had in the world. The league has been off for six months now.

Apart from the ‘win at home’ syndrome, the LMC failed to address other teething issues like the security of match officials and that of visiting teams to avoid replay of incidences that had characterised the system in the past. State owned clubs still go cap in hand to the state governments to beg for funds to  prosecute their matches.

Some of the stakeholders who spoke said although the change of name was unnecessary, it would be okay if it will chart a new course for the league, as the change may  bring back spectators to the match venues.

Some people opined that  the name change should bring a new direction in the ownership of clubs in the league with most of the state-owned clubs get independent ownership

It is also expected that the change in name should also make provisions for payment of match officials’ indemnities. In the past, it is the home team that pays the indemnities of match officials which put the officials at the mercy of home teams.

Some argue that the LMC should be more concern about the welfare of the players than changing the name of the league. Most clubs owing their players and coaches sign on fees.

•Football action in the final of the last Federation Cup between Hertland of Owerri and Lobi Stars of Markudi. PHOTO... Emmanuel Osodi
•Football action in the final of the last Federation Cup between Hertland of Owerri and Lobi Stars of Markudi. PHOTO: Emmanuel Osodi

The state of the league has forced some promising talents into obscure leagues abroad. Many Nigerian young players have found solace in leagues in Sudan, Iraq, and some other part of the world than playing at home, while the local league is not attractive to foreigners.

Abdullahi Ibrahim, the Secretary, FCT Football Association, believes it is too early to pre-empt what the name change would bring to the table until the league finally kicks off.

According to Ibrahim, “if I knew the reason behind the change of name, I would have commented. However, since the reason was not made known to the public, I cannot say much.’’

Reacting to the name change, Mansur Abdullahi, Coach of Blackwall Street Football Club, said the change was not a bad idea.

“If the new management of the league has good reason for their action, I think we should give them a benefit of doubt.To me, it is a welcome development for the league to run.

“It was so bad that the former chairman of the NPL, Victor Baribote wanted to hold the country to ransom before he was sacked.

“For God’s sake, we must learn to respect the voice of the majority, like the saying goes, the voice of the people is the voice of God.

“If 18 out of 20 people have said they don’t want you anymore, you should go honourably before they kick you out,” he said.

Ayo Owolabi, Team Manager, Kogi Confluence Queens, said, “it is only the board that knows the reason for the change and what they think fits the league.

“But I am not happy with the change; it should have remained NPL. When it was NPL, there were so many changes in the kick-off date of the league and now that they want to start the league, they said they are changing the name.

“I just pray the league starts on 9 March because the name change doesn’t mean the system will change. I think there are still lingering issues yet to be resolved than changing the name of the league,’’ Owolabi said.

In his reaction, Teibowei Diepreiye, the former Technical Adviser of Bayelsa United, said the change was a welcome development because “it is a way of rebranding the Nigerian league’’.

According to him, “it is still the highest league body in Nigeria. It is even better because NPL has been associated with so many atrocities which have bewitched that name and changing it now makes sense.

“The change cannot cause any problem if due process is followed but if it is not, that can be a problem,” he said.

Diepreiye said that if LMC sees the need for a change as a step to making headway and to start all over again, then, “it is the right step in the right direction’’.

An official of the league, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at the change of name.

The official said that the decision might not be unconnected with the upcoming court case involving the former NPL Chairman, Victor Baribote.

“Let’s watch how things go after the case, but I am not comfortable with the new nomenclature because I believe the NPL is more appropriate,’’ the source said.

The previous board of the NPL led by Baribote was dissolved on 11 December, 2012 following allegations of misappropriation of funds, lack of transparency, accountability and bad management.

The club owners claimed he was responsible for the failure of the league to attract sponsorship for the past two seasons.

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