No NPFL without NNL, says NFF board member

Emeka Inyama, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has said that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) cannot exist without the Nigeria National League (NNL) as far as player development is concerned.

Inyama, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday, said the NNL was an important contributor to NPFL’s growth going by the statutes of the NFF.

According to Inyama, the promotion and relegation principles of the leagues as enshrined in the football statutes is an indication that both clubs cannot exist in isolation.

The National League is a very strong league and a second tier league.

“What we are trying to do is to make it as good as the Premier League because if the national league is not good, then the premier league will not be good.

“That is why the synergy is very close and we are happy that it is working out well.”

Inyama, who is also the Chairman of the NNL, said the process that would ensure the promotion of qualified clubs to the NPFL would be concluded in two weeks time.

He said the NNL season had come to an end but the matches to determine the two teams from the North, that would join the already qualified teams from the South, would commence this weekend.

The football administrator said: “We have concluded other group except the last games in A1 and A2.

“One of the Northern group games involving Niger Tornadoes FC and Mighty Jets of Jos, will be concluded this weekend because Jets withdrew their appeal against Tornadoes.

“So, the NFF has given the go-ahead for us to conclude the matches; so, this weekend, we will conclude one group, while the other group will be concluded in two weeks time.”

He commended the clubs that were promoted from the NNL to the NPFL, saying that they were worthy ambassadors.

“We are happy that the league has come to an end and we are happy that we are almost producing the four teams that will represent us.

“Presently, those in the premier league are doing well.

“Giwa, Wikki Tourists, Abia Warriors, are doing very well, so, we expect that those that will be promoted finally from the North to join MFM and Ikorodu United, will also do well.”

The NNL new season will commence on Nov. 6, after a successful 2013/2014 football season