NPL Plans Big For Premier League’s Final Match

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has made elaborate plans for the concluding matches of the 2009/2010 Globacom Premier League competition scheduled for July 7.

Malam Alhassan Yakmut, the NPL Executive Secretary, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, said the plans include live television coverage for the star match of the day.

The league season’s final matches, which are the 10 matches of the competition’s week 34, are to be played simultaneously on July 7 at all the league venues.

“The idea behind the plans was to ensure the season was concluded on a glamorous note.

“Consequently, we have invited the Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Ibrahim Bio, to grace the star match,’’ he said.

The star match is match fixture number 340 between league leaders Enyimba International FC and rivals Kano Pillars FC at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.

“Both clubs are placed first and second respectively on the league table, with just two points’ difference between them as at now, and the match will decide who wins the title.

“We are therefore making elaborate plans to use the match to further showcase the league, and this is why we have made a budget that

involves giving the match some hype with a closing ceremony added to it,’’ Yakmut said.

He said the NPL Board at its meeting of June 30 approved a budget for the activities of the closing ceremony, with the secretariat’s Marketing Department mandated to explore corporate support.

The NPL Executive Secretary said plans had been made to brand the stadium to add to the occasion’s glamour while some stakeholders had been invited to the occasion.

We have invited representatives of the Nigeria Referees’ Association (NRA), the NFF Match Commissioners’ Appointments Committee and other stakeholders as well as five representatives of assorted sponsors,’’ he said.