NPFL calendar unfavourable for Nigerian clubsides’ continental campaign, sports journalist says
NAN-S-16
Calendar
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, Jan. 4, 2018 (NAN) A veteran sports journalist, Segun Agbede, on Thursday said Nigerian clubsides’ campaign in 2018 CAF tournaments may not be fruitful in view of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) calendar.
Agbede told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the calendar was unfavourable to the four clubsides and would affect their performance while playing in the two continental competitions.
NAN reports that Plateau United Football Club of Jos and Lagos-based MFM FC would play in the 2018 CAF Champions League.
Similarly, Enyimba International of Aba and Akwa United of Uyo would feature in the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
Plateau United’s only appearance on the continent before now was in 2000, when they were edged out from the CAF Cups’ Winners Cup in the first round.
Enyimba were regular on the continent, and they won the CAF Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004.
Akwa United, the AITEO Cup winners, will be playing for the second time in the CAF Confederation Cup having lost out in the first round in 2016.
Agbede said Nigeria’s representatives should have, in view of their relative experience, had enough playing time before featuring in the competitions this year.
“I have a serious doubt if they can perform well because only Enyimba has the pedigree in the continental tournament; other three clubs are new entrants.
“If they are not careful, they will exit the tournament early even as CAF has changed the calendar of the competition from the end of 2018.
“The championships are now expected to start by November and finish by May 2019 which is in line with most of the other leagues around the world,’’ he said.
Agbede said changing the NPFL calendar to be in line with that of many league competitions in Europe and Africa would afford Nigerian clubsides the opportunity of adequate preparations.
“Hopefully, if the Nigerian league starts by Jan. 14, it can be compressed to finish latest by September so that we can start again before November to accommodate the new calendar.
“We must also realise that the date for AFCON has been changed to a new date in 2019 which is now June/July.
“Our clubs need to be ready and have good playing time in order to be able to square up successfully against their opponents who have favourable league structures.
“Otherwise, they may not do well.
“But I hope things get better in 2018 for all our clubsides and the national teams as well,’’ he said.(NAN)
KOJE/COO/OLAL
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(Edited by Cecilia Odey and Olawale Alabi)