Expectations High As League Kicks-Off Weekend

Expectations are high among sports fans that the 2010/2011 Nigeria Premier League season would kick off this weekend.

The league has been postponed twice since it was scheduled to begin on September 20.

The delay was caused by many differences between clubs and the Nigeria Premier League Board including unpaid allowances to players and league officials.

However, barring any last minute change, stadiums across the country would come alive, from Saturday.

In order to ensure competitiveness and minimum standards, the Nigeria Premier League board has been therefore urged to learn from past failures and start the league on a good footing.

According to the chairman, supporters Club of Sharks Foot Ball Club of  Port Harcourt, Minaiyo Igani, the issue of players welfare should be given top most priority.

He said that top quality players attract fans to league and frowned  at the high rate at which players travel overseas without getting the right foundations.

Igani also warned against poor officiating, noting that some questionable decisions by the referees are capable of infuriating fans.

Besides, the Sharks Supporters boss called for the improvement of security in league venues to guarantee the security of lives of players and spectators.

“We just finished a meeting with the Sharks players concerning their strike over non-payment of their entitlements. This is what we have been saying.

“And our expectations as the new league season begins is  that they should make the league attractive by ensuring players welfare, good officiating and security of lives of players and officials”.

Meanwhile, The NPL board has assured of adequate security in match venues.

Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Tunji Sabalola stated in an interview monitored in Port Harcourt that the board has reached an agreement with the police and others security agencies towards that direction.

“We have made plans along with clubs and security agencies at the match venues. Our major concern is to make sure that all match officials are secured before, during and after matches across league venues”, Babalola said.

Akonte Samuel