By VICTOR OKOYE

The Interim Management Committee of Nigeria Professional Football League (IMC-NPFL) on Wednesday said they have secured a sponsor to settle the competition’s match official’s indemnities and other expenses.

Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the league organisers, while announcing this during the draw for the competition’s season 2022/2023, said the sponsorship would be for the next three years.

He added that the payments would be done directly from the sponsoring company to the appointed match officials.

“We are committed to eradicating the malaise of indebtedness to match officials, which compromises them and lowers their morale to do the right thing,” Elegbeleye said.

He also announced that the league organisers have increased the competition winners’ cash prize to N100 million.

“This is a 100 percent increase on what was in place previously,” the IMC-NPFL chairman, who is a former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC), said.

Elegbeleye also disclosed that the IMC-NPFL had already secured lofty sponsorship deals for the league, even though he failed to give further details.

“These will indeed add to the fortunes of the Nigerian league in the new season.”

He also assured that IMC-NPFL would ensure that the 2022/2023 season was devoid of violence, thuggery and other vices that could bring the game to disrepute.

Elegbeleye warned that any club caught breaching the laid-down rules, especially those related to violence, would not be fined N500,000 as was witnessed in the past.

“In this new dispensation, three points will automatically be deducted from the team to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Speaking earlier at the draw ceremony, Ibrahim Gusau, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), had applauded the IMC-NPFL for its efforts to reposition the Nigerian premier league.

Gusau, who was represented at the event by NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said the Federation was satisfied with the efforts being made by the committee so far.

“Let me state clearly that the NFF is satisfied with the efforts the IMC has been making to rebrand and reposition the NPFL since its inauguration.

“The NFF commends the IMC Chairman and all his members for the highly successful pre-season tournament held earlier in the month, and also for the actualization of this Draw Ceremony.

“The commitment to engineer changes that will deliver a vibrant Nigerian premier league and a viable football economy in the country remains as firm as ever.

“The NFF will continue to provide the necessary support to the IMC to fulfill its terms of reference in flying colours,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, was also represented at the Draw Ceremony by his Chief of Staff, Abba Yola.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Daniel Amokachi, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sports, Paul Bassey, the Vice-Chairman of IMC-NPFL, and Olumide Bamiduro, the committee’s Secretary.

Others at the event included Davidson Owumi, the Head of Operations at the IMC-NPFL, as well as ex-internationals such as Victor Ikpeba, Augustine Eguavoen and Ann Agumanu-Chiejine.

NAN reports that the draw had pitched Akwa United Football Club of Uyo against Bendel Insurance of Benin in the star match of Match Day 1 fixtures slated for Jan. 8.

The draw, which had a total of 20 clubs being grouped into A and B, also sees former champions Plateau United of Jos taking on Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

Eight-time champions Enyimba International of Aba open their account against hosts Nasarawa United at the Lafia Township Stadium.

THE GROUPS

GROUP A

Kwara United

Nasarawa United

Plateau United

Gombe United

El-Kanemi Warriors

Enyimba International FC

Akwa United

Bendel Insurance

Shooting Stars

Remo Stars

GROUP B

Niger Tornadoes

Doma United

Wikki Tourists

Lobi Stars

Rivers United

Abia Warriors

Dakkada FC

Rangers International

Sunshine Stars

ayelsa United

MATCH DAY 1 FIXTURES

GROUP A

Nasarawa United vs Enyimba FC

Akwa United vs Bendel Insurance

Plateau United vs Shooting Stars

Kwara United vs Gombe United

Remo Stars vs El-Kanemi Warriors

GROUP B

Bayelsa United vs Dakkada FC

Wikki Tourists vs Niger Tornadoes

Doma United vs Sunshine Stars

Rivers United vs Lobi Stars

Rangers International vs Abia Warriors

(NAN)

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