** The new Nigeria League season will finally kick off On Saturday after several postponements. The troubles that have bedeviled the league over the years have caused the league to lose its appeal and credibility.
** The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has to brace up to major credibility and organisational challenges, if it were ever to win back the confidence and support of the public and sponsors alike.
** As we speak, the issue between Baribote and the election that installed Davidson Owunmi as chairman of the NPL have not been settled even though both men are to face the NFF executive committee.
** The NPL will kick off this weekend without a title sponsor and the immediate consequence of this is that the league which has her books in red will struggle to meet their financial responsibilities.
** All Premier League clubs except newly-promoted Bukola Babes are owned by government and Bukola babes are in the process of being acquired by Kwara State government.
These clubs boast of yearly budgets of as much as 300 million naira yet players’ salaries, which are very small, are not regular, not to mention match bonuses, sign-on fees and other entitlements.
At present, players and coaches are owed over N300 million by these clubs over several seasons.
** These and some other issues are matters the NPL board will have to tackle wisely but aggresively so as to bring the league back to the consciousness of football fans accross the country.
SATURDAY 6TH NOVEMBER, 2010
KADUNA UTD FC VS KANO PILLARS FC
** Kaduna Utd and Kano Pillars are two Northern Nigeria teams that understand each other well.
** Over the last 3 seasons, both teams have met 6times. Kano Pillars won 3 of those meetings losing 2. On Kano's last 3 visits to Kaduna, they've managed to pick 2 draws and just one loss.
** Both teams have brought in some re-enforcements but one notable departure for Pillars will be last season's league top scorer, Ahmed Musa who is now on the pay-roll of VV Venlo in Holland
SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER, 2010
ENYIMBA INT’L FC VS OCEAN BOYS FC
** Defending Champions Enyimba will host Ocean Boys in Aba.
** Enyimba showed against Kaduna UTD last weekend that despite losing a few good quality players in the off-season, they still have what it takes to compete for the Premier League shield.
** Enyimba kicked off their season by defeating Kaduna UTD in the charity cup. The match ended 4-2 after penalty shoot out.
** Enyimba and ocean boys are customers, in the last 4 seasons they've played very interesting games against each other.
** In 8 meetings, Enyimba has a slight advantage, they've won 4, lost 3 and played a draw. They key in this fixture is that Enyimba have not dropped a point to Ocean boys at home in the Premier League.
** I expect this game to end in a slim victory for Enyimba
Other fixtures:
BUKOLA BABES FC VS ZAMFARA UTD FC
3SC VS SUNSHINE STARS FC
PLATEAU UTD FC VS DOLPHIN FC
SHARKS FC VS JUTH FC
GOMBE UTD FC VS HEARTLAND FC
NIGER TORNADOES FC VS CROWN FC
WARRI WOLVES FC VS KWARA UTD FC
RANGERS INT’L FC VS LOBI STARS FC
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