Yobe Desert Stars will be sanctioned for boycotting Super 4, NNL Chairman says
NAN-S-4
Sanction
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 11, 2018 (NAN) The Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL) board, Chidi Okenwa, on Thursday said the league body would sanction Yobe Desert Stars for failing to participate in the league’s Super 4 competition.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition involved the top two clubs in the Northern Conference and Southern Conference of the 2017/2018 NNL.
The Damaturu-based side won the Northern Conference, while Kwara United of Ilorin came second, with the Southern Conference being won by Go Round FC of Omuku and Heartland FC of Owerri.
NAN reports that the Desert Stars did not participate in the Super 4 competition which was played at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
NNL, however, brought in Remo Stars Football Club of Sagamu, the team which was relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Okenwa said the club would be sanctioned in line with stipulated laws guiding the boycott of matches by clubs in the NNL.
“I can say that, up till the start of the Super 4, we were at a loss about the whereabouts of the Yobe side. The fact that they did not honour the competition is still a mystery to us.
“From all this, we have yet to have a word from the club. The league has not officially ended with the conclusion of the Super 4.
“The league body will take appropriate actions against them, although they are no longer in the NNL. There are provisions for disciplinary actions against any erring club.
“We will not tolerate any infringement on our league system and we will also enforce judgment against them,’’ he said.
Okenwa said all clubs participating in the league signed a code of conduct at the inception of the league.
“The rules have not changed. All the clubs in a league, be it the NNL, NLO and NPFL, must abide by all the rules of the game. They must honour all the stipulated matches.
“The act of not honouring matches has its own disciplinary action and punitive measures too. Their action is just like bringing the game of football to disrepute.
“We will not allow that. Wherever they may be playing now does not matter, there are provisions to sanction them, regardless of their structure.
“However, the clubs which played in the competition must have learnt one thing or the other, and they will be happy they participated,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Go Round FC emerged champions of the NNL Super 4 after defeating Heartland FC 2-1 in the final match.(NAN)
KOJE/DEB/OLAL
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun and Olawale Alabi)