December 27 resumption of NPFL is sacrosanct – sports Minister

By Amaechi Agbo

The minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare has insisted that resumption of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL next week Saturday is sacrosanct.
The minister, Sunday Dare who disclosed this on Friday in Lagos said there is no going back on the league starting o the December 27 adding that the delay in clubs meeting up licensing requirements is not tenable.
The League like all other Leagues in the world was halted due to the covid-19 pandemic. But even when other Leagues in the world came back without fans, the Nigerian League has remained in the cooler.
The minister while announcing the new date for the league was a cherry news to the journalists at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos as the Minister disagreed that Nigerian football was not dead but agreed that interest in Nigerian football has waned.
The Sports Minister noted that the right things in the League concerning Club licensing and financial regulations must be adhered to.
“Part of the problem of not starting the League outside the covid-19 pandemic is from them, the organisers. We’ve been waiting for them. We’re meeting with the NFF and NPFL to sort things out. What is most important is that we must do the right things.
“We must know the number of teams who are ready and have fulfilled the necessary regulations to start. We’ll start with whatever number of teams who have done the right things. December 27 is sacrosanct. The League will start on that date”, the Minister emphasised.
Nigerian teams playing at the CAF Continental assignments have fumbled with Plateau United and Kano Pillars being dumped at the first rounds. Sports analysts have attributed their early exit to the Nigerian League which has not kicked off.