Money-Bag Clubs Bane Of Premier League –Coach

A typical Nigeria Premier League action

Gratification to match officials has been described as the bane of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Samson David Unanuel, Chief Coach of Niger Tornados of Minna made the assertion at the weekend in an interview shortly after his side lost 3-0 to Sharks of Port Harcourt

According to him, the league would not improve except club managers stop influencing match officials performance with the aim of turning results their way.

“I am a football coach, I don’t like criticising other people’s job, but as it is , if our league continues like this in terms of officiating, we will never have a good league”, he said.

Unanuel, continued that it was disheartening to note that teams that were financially buoyant use the advantage to frustrate those clubs that do not have enough.

“There are teams that do not have money to give to match officials, to officiate in their favour, while those that have use it wrongly to win at all cost, that is why our league will remain static”, he declared.

The chief coach was bitter that his side scored two goals against their hosts at the weekend and still lost 3-0.

“When you score two goals away and they are disallowed, it becomes very discouraging”, he said.

He further stated that the practice had seen private club owners leave the league.

According to him, such irregularities forced people like late Moshood Abiola to disband his club, others who had it rough with the system include Chief Jude Ezechukwu, proprietor of Jasper United, Oscar Udoji of Udoji United among others.

“The major problem is that most of the referees are grossly incompetent.  You can imagine where a classroom teacher becomes a primer league referee. What do you expect?, he asked

Tonye Orabere