Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has explained that the committee is adopting a holistic approach to develop a framework to reposition the league in line with the mandate given it by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports.
Elegbeleye noted that the committee is committed to ensuring that the NPFL will be organised henceforth in line with global best practices.
“We want the world to see our league, see our players and this can only be done when the matches are televised and we also will not show the world sub-standard pitches, hence we are insisting, under NFF Club Licensing, that only television friendly stadium will be approved for matches,” the IMC boss said.
He warned that any club that fails to meet the standard set for facilities will have to choose another venue for its home games.
Elegbeleye, a former Chairman of the National Sports Commission, said the purpose of the meeting with the Club Owners was to brief them on activities of the IMC and notify them of the proposed date for the start of the new season.
“Basically, what we did was to interact with the clubs that participate in the league, inform them of our plans for the organisation of the league, full implementation of Club Licensing and a date for the commencement for the new season,” he said.