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The Nigeria Premier
League (NPL) has been postponed for the umpteenth time. The league,
which was expected to start on October 2 is now scheduled to start
three weeks later on October 23.

Also, a record 24
clubs, including Bayelsa United, which had been relegated at the end of
last season, will be part of the new league format.

In the same vein,
Gateway FC of Abeokuta, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Ranchers Bees of
Kaduna who were all also relegated will be part of the enlarged Premier
League.

These decisions were reached at a parley held yesterday in Abuja between the Sports Minister,

Isa Bio, the NPL board members, and the club owners.

With this new development, a new draw for the fixtures of the annual competition is expected very soon.

On the issue of the
eligibility of Davidson Owumi as NPL chairman, the meeting ruled that
Owumi should continue in office even though his challenger, Rumson
Baribote was given the leeway to seek redress if he is not satisfied
with the decision taken. Baribote had contested against Owumi for the
NPL chairmanship and argued that Owumi had been removed as chairman of
Ranger International football club before the election and that he was
therefore not qualified to contest.

However Austin
Popo, the executive secretary of Association of Footballers of Nigeria
(APFON) described the latest move as a scratch on the surface. He
argued that the more fundamental issue of players’ welfare has not been
properly addressed.

“What they did was just to scratch the surface. There are far more
fundamental things at stake like the vaccum created with the NFF board
still not in place and also the welfare of the main actors, the
players. If these issues are not addressed, the league will not start
even by the new date of October 23.” Popo said.