Nigeria Premier Football League clubs are now open to playing in an abridged league to avoid long distance travels to match venues.
NPFL chairman and Nigeria Football Federation vice president, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye disclosed that fagged out by the distance they have to cover in playing games across the country, the clubs have agreed to an abridged league, which they previously rejected, when the idea was mooted by the league management at the start of the 2024 season.
“For now it is obvious that traveling on Nigerian roads is very dangerous and long distance travel is not good for for football,” said Hon. Elegbeleye in an interview with Mitchell Obi’s Sports Salsa.
“Imagine people traveling from Port Harcourt to Gombe by road. People traveling from Lagos to Katsina by road and people coming from Kano by road to play in Benin City. This is very dangerous.
“It think is more advisable to play in the abridged league system so that players can travel less and play less number of matches. This is good for the body of the players and their wellbeing. It’s also good for the clubs too.
“Most likely we are going the way of an abridged league next season.”
He added the rest of season’s league matches suspended for some time now will resume on the weekend of May 25/26.
Meanwhile, Hon Elegbeleye disclosed that the current economic hardships in the country has demanded for a review of players wages.
“The least NPFL players can earn is N150, 000, by next season, we will upgrade it because even N150,000, we discovered that some clubs are paying below it. Some players accept it just to join such clubs,” he stated.
“That is why compiling your account now is part of our clubs’ licensing.
