Stakeholders Call for More Improvements in NPL

 

The coaches, Mutiu Adepoju, Tunde Disu, Joseph Dosu and Fatai Amao, disclosed this to newmen in Lagos.

The soccer pundits also urged the management of the NPL to do much more, to ensure a complete overhaul of the league.

Adepoju, General Manager, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, said that that the NFA should intensify efforts at ensuring that the league was lifted to an enviable standard from next season.

``Our league by now should be ranked among the best in Africa and indeed the world; it should by now have international status.

``For instance, some matches were postponed without due consultation with the clubs; this also had some negative effects on the league.

``The season ought to have ended, but the league is still on. The 2010/2011 season lasted for 13 months which is not supposed to be.

``Most of the players get exhausted even before the league comes to an end,’’ he said.

Adepoju, a former player of Real Sociedad FC in Spain, however, added that the level of officiating in the NPL has improved.

``I can say that match officiating has improved drastically; however, there is still much room for improvement, to meet up with international standards.

``If all these issues can be addressed, our league will be as standard as that of South Africa,’’ he said.

Disu, a former coach of the national U-20 team, urged the NFA to always abide by the rules that govern the league.

``The NFA does not always follow the laid down rules of the premier league. They should stop taking bedroom decisions.

“To run football is a big business, so the NFA should always learn to do the right things at the right time,’’ the coach said.

Disu also agreed that the league has been successful this season, but called for more improvements in subsequent seasons.

‘’Honestly speaking, I give them (NFA) kudos for this season that is about to end, but they should do better in the next season.

Dosu, a member of the Atlanta ‘96 Olympic soccer gold winning team, said that the NPL managers should always keep to the duration of the league.

``The league is supposed to run for nine months and players are expected to rest before another league starts.

``I think if the NPL can improve on that and put other necessary things in place, the league will be ranked among the best in Africa and attract sponsors,” Dosu said.

He, however, said that the league was very competitive this season and commended the NPL for its effort in running a successful season.

Amao, a former 3SC coach, urged the both the NFA and NPL to get viable sponsors for the league next season, for it to become more attractive and competitive.

According to him, most of the clubs in the league were neck deep in debt and had to depend on their state governments to finance them before they honour their matches, especially the away games.