Club owners minimize conflict with NPFL board
The Nigeria Premier Football League club owners association asserts that there are no complaints or issues, despite reports suggesting that clubs were heading for a confrontation with the NPFL board regarding financial discrepancies.
Reports indicated that the club owners had planned to boycott the match-day 30 games scheduled for the upcoming weekend. This was due to concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the broadcast deals signed by the NPFL with StarTimes and Propel Sports, as well as the fulfillment of financial commitments made at the beginning of the season.
Secretary of the association and Chairman of Sporting Lagos, Godwin Enakhena, was engaged in negotiations with the board. They were also addressing other issues such as the backlog of outstanding matches to ensure a successful conclusion to the season, with just nine games remaining.
"We are currently in negotiations and discussions, but there are no formal complaints or significant problems," Enakhena stated.
"We have several issues we need to address, including unresolved matches that are yet to be played."
"The economy is a significant factor, and we're aware of its impact on various aspects. However, we remain committed to concluding the league as scheduled. As we approach the end of the season, it's crucial to review certain matters before proceeding to ensure there are no conflicts."
"As per the league calendar, the 2023/24 season is set to conclude on June 9."
As the league progresses to match-day 30, Rivers United, recently eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup, still has six outstanding matches to fulfill within the allotted timeframe.
At the commencement of the season in September last year, NPFL's strategic partners, GTI, announced an increase in the league's prize money from N100m to N150m, along with a N10m takeoff grant for each of the 20 clubs.
Additionally, the NPFL secured a $5m streaming deal with Propel Sports and a separate N5.9bn agreement spanning five seasons with StarTimes for broadcasting the league on its cable channel.
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