NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag LMC

  • Mar, Wed, 2020
Sport

COVID-19: NFF shuts down all football activities for 4 weeks, including street football

Football
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, March 18, 2020 (NAN) The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) late Wednesday in Abuja announced the cessation of all forms of football activities in the country for the next four weeks.

Ademola Olajire, the NFF Director of Communications, in a statement said the shutdown was “as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic’’.

He said the shutdown affected all on-field activities involving the various national teams, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the other leagues, youth football programmes and “even street football’’.

Olajire quoted the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, as saying “the cessation will be for four weeks, after which the situation will be reviewed in line with events and trends worldwide’’.

The NFF president was also quoted as advising all members of the football family to observe the various safety precautions and conduct as advised.

“They should observe the precautions as advised by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), such as hand-washing, the use of sanitisers and social distancing.’’

Pinnick was further quoted as saying the only football activity that would be permitted was the work of the NFF investigation committee into the death of Chineme Martins.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Benin City and is expected to submit its report within the next 10 days.

Meanwhile, the ongoing 2019/2020 NPFL has been suspended till further notice in line with global health preventive protocol against the coronavirus disease, ostensibly in line with NFF’s directive.

“The decision is to conform with the guidelines for containment of the spread of the global pandemic,’’ the LMC, who are the organisers of NPFL, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The LMC, in suspending the league’s remaining matches, said it would review the decision after consulting the nation’s health authorities, such as the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC.

NAN reports that Match Day 25 fixtures in the 2019/2020 NPFL were concluded on Wednesday.(NAN)
BAY/CHOM/OLAL
================

(Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Olawale Alabi)

  • Mar, Tue, 2020
Sport

Reps to look into health facilities provided for league matches

Facilities
By EricJames Ochigbo
Abuja, March 17, 2020 (NAN) The House of Representatives resolved on Tuesday in Abuja to assess and audit the health facilities provided by the League Management Company (LMC) for league matches across the country.

This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion on need to investigate the cause of death of Chineme Martins, a player with Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia.

While moving the motion at plenary, Rep. Dachung Bagos (PDP-Plateau) said Martins had on March 8 slumped on the football pitch during a match in Lafia and died.

He said the first aid manual and related healthcare issues for football which was the standard for international best practices was not adhered to.

The Rep said  it provided  guidelines for scene safety, safe environment, first aid, assessment of injuries and basic life support among others, but were all ignored in that case.

“Article 10, No. 3, Grade `A’, Players’ Welfare 6-9 of the Nigeria Football Federation Club Licensing Regulations which deal with annual medical examination provides regulation for examination which was also not adhered to.

“Article 11, No.101, Grade `A’ of the Football Federation Club licensing regulations give specific guidelines on first aid equipment and facilities that must be available. But there was no first aid or ambulance service on that day.

“The LMC has not taken necessary steps to ensure compliance by providing necessary medical equipment and ambulances,” he said.

Bagos said that if those facilities were present at the stadium, Martins would not have died that way.

The House then urged the NFF and LMC to ensure that first aid and emergency response with ambulance services were on standby at all match events in line with international best practices.

The members later observed a one-minute of silence in honour of the late Martins.

In his ruling, the House’s Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila mandated the Committee on Sports to investigate the cause of Martins’ death.

He mandated the Committee to also audit the health facilities provided by the LMC for league matches across the country and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.(NAN)
EOO/CHOM/OLAL
=================

(Edited by Chioma Ugboma and Olawale Alabi)

  • Mar, Sat, 2020
Sport

Ondo State FA always compliant in providing medical facilities and personnel for matches, official says

Compliance
By Segun Giwa
Akure, March 14, 2020 (NAN) The Vice-Chairman of Ondo State Football Association (FA), Henry Akingboju, on Saturday said the association had always been fully compliant in providing medical facilities and personnel during matches in the state.

Akingboju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure that the association had on its part always ensured that all necessary provisions were made.

“We take care to forestall unseen circumstances before, during and after matches,’’ he said.

Akingboju told NAN that all the conditions for a hitch-free match, as directed by the League Management Company (LMC), had always been met by the state FA.

He added that this was always in conjunction with the management of Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure and other relevant stakeholders.

“We have always ensured that matches went on according to the rules.

“And, as regards new directives, we on our part in Ondo State will definitely get it right. We will do the needful to ensure we have hitch-free matches in our stadium.

“I will direct the (FA) Secretary to liaise with the ambulance man and I will personally see the Chairman of Sunshine Stars FC so that we can continue to get it right.

“Necessary measures will also be put in place before our next home match,” he said.

NAN reports that the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, had issued directives on the provision of medical facilities and personnel at venues of league matches.

The directives, which were later echoed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) were in the wake of the death of Chineme Martins on Sunday in Lafia.

Martins, then of Nasarawa United, had died during their Match Day 23 match in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) against the visiting Katsina United.

His death came after he slumped while standing alone in his team’s half of the pitch, and the failure to get proper and immediate medical attention must have been a cause.

The incident led to the directive that no NPFL match should go ahead henceforth without the adequate provision of medical facilities and personnel at the venue.

Speaking also, Tajudeen Akinyemi, Chairman of Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), managers of Sunshine Stars, said the agency had always complied with all medical measures necessary in the game of football.

Akinyemi said the agency was also working on the areas which needed improvement as stipulated by the LMC.

NAN reports that Sunshine Stars’ next match is against Enyimba International FC of Aba in a rescheduled week 21 fixture of the NPFL.(NAN)
GSD/OLAL
==========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

  • Mar, Sat, 2020
Sport

Niger FA awaits formal directives from NFF on medical facilities and personnel requirements at match venues

Health

By Obinna Unaeze

Minna, March 14, 2020 (NAN) The Niger State Football Association (FA) Vice-Chairman, Baba Yabagi, on Saturday said the FA was waiting for written directives from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on provision of medical facilities and personnel.

Yabagi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that such formal directives would enable the Niger FA act accordingly.

“We heard in the news that the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the NFF gave directives to state FAs on medical facilities and personnel.

NAN reports that the directive was for host FAs and home clubs to ensure necessary medical facilities and personnel as provided in the NFF Club Licensing Regulations were in place before matches.

They are to put these in place before the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches can go on henceforth.

`Right now we cannot act on what we heard from the news. We have to wait for a written directive from the NFF on what we are supposed to do and how to go about it before we act,” Yabagi said.

He said however that the state FA had before now sensitised match officials and players to the need to be fit and healthy before and during matches.

The Niger FA vice-chairman said medical personnel were always deployed to the state-owned Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna during matches.

“The medical facilities available in the stadium during matches include medical room with essential drugs, other health consumables and ambulance.’’

He also said the General Hospital and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital, both in Minna, were always put on notice during matches in case of critical health issues.(NAN)

OCU/OLAL

==========

 

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Mon, 2020
Sport

Rangers International protest Match Day 20 fixture officiating

Officiating
By Nicholas Obisike
Enugu, Feb. 17, 2020 (NAN) Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Monday said they have launched an appeal to the League Management Company (LMC) over referee Jacob Gwatsa.

The 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions said the appeal was over Gwatsa’s handling of their 2019/2020 NPFL Match Day 20 fixture in Enugu.

“Rangers International FC have made an official appeal to the LMC against referee Jacob Gwatsa of the FCT over his controversial handling of Sunday’s fixture against Akwa United in Enugu,” Norbert Okolie, the club’s spokesman said in a statement.

The club alleged that the referee twice ignored calls for clear penalty kicks against the visiting side which ran away with a 2-1 win.

Okolie said Rangers were also surprised at the choice of Gwatsa for their match.

“It is this same referee who had his red card decision barely a year ago against our Pascal Seka rescinded.

“This was in a rescheduled Match Day 8 fixture against Bendel Insurance FC.’’

The club spokesman said the letter was signed by their Team Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, on behalf of the club’s General Manager.

“Let it be stated that Gwatsa issued a red card in the Match Day 8 match number 045A rescheduled between Bendel Insurance FC and Rangers International FC, and the LMC had to reverse the red card decision.

“Aside the numerous questionable calls made by Gwatsa in Sunday’s fixture, the height of it was the penalty kick appeals which he waved off to the chagrin of even his co-officials in the game.

“On two occasions, the opposing defenders handled the ball in the penalty area and a striker, Seka Pascal, was hacked down inside the box and the referee allowed play to go on,” Rangers claimed in the letter.

It added that it was left wondering if it was a coincidence that the same referee whose decision was reversed by the LMC barely a year ago could be found culpable again.

“Was it just human error or a clear case of targeted aggression at the club due to past meetings?

“Rangers FC are appealing to LMC for justice not only to be done but must be seen to have been done by the league organising body so as to maintain the high standard already attained,” it added.(NAN)
NUO/JPE/OLAL
==============

(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

2019/2020 NPFL now to begin on Nov. 3

League
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 15, 2019 (NAN) The League Management Company (LMC), organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), have now picked Nov. 3 as a new kick-off date for the 2019/2020 NPFL season.

The new date is being backed by the conduct of the draw for the competition, held late on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the draw was supervised by the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Salihu Abubakar.

According to the LMC, the league will revert to its original format of the 20 clubsides represented in a single NPFL log.

During the course of the season, which will run from November to May, each club will play in a double round-robin system.

They will face each other once at their home stadium and once at that of each of their opponents, for 38 games each.

After a long consultative meeting which began at 6 p.m. and ended at 12 midnight, it was also agreed that the long-awaited season will now kick off on Nov. 3.

It is expected to end on May 30, 2020.

THE NPFL 2019/2020 MATCHDAY 1 FIXTURES

Wikki Tourists vs Jigawa Stars
Plateau United vs Lobi Stars
Delta Force vs Akwa Starlets
Kano Pillars vs Rivers United
Heartland FC vs MFM FC
FC IfeanyiUbah vs Adamawa United
Rangers International vs Sunshine Stars
Warri Wolves vs Akwa United
Abia Warriors vs Katsina United
Enyimba International vs Nasarawa United(NAN)
VO/OLAL
========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NPFL can produce players better than Messi with proper youth structure, La Liga official says

League
By Muhyideen Jimoh
Abuja, May 1, 2019 (NAN) Javier del Rio, Head of the La Liga/Nigeria Office, on Wednesday in Abuja said the Spanish league organisers have been working closely with the League Management Company (LMC).

Del Rio told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the close relationship with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) organisers was aimed at establishing a proper youth structure for Nigerian clubs.

He said this was crucial to developing the league and producing world class footballers for Nigeria.

“The NPFL is capable of producing the next Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta (graduates of the FC Barcelona academy) or those better than they are if a proper youth system is established with the NPFL clubs,” Del Rio said.

He said there was the need for grassroots development for the Nigerian league to grow.

“Nigeria has a lot of talents, but the problem has been how to discover them early, harness and mould them into world class stars,” the La Liga official said.

He said La Liga, in conjunction with LMC, was trying to replicate the Spanish La Liga model in Nigeria’s NPFL so as to develop the league and make it more attractive.

“Since our partnership came into being in 2016, several workshops have taken place which have helped set up a proper roadmap for the league.

“We are also helping the clubs develop a strong youth structure, so as to develop their young players into professionals like we have in Spain.

” For example, players like Iniesta and Messi became who they are because they have been playing for FC Barcelona since they were 11 or 12 years old.

“So, the key to getting very good players is to start training them when they are very young and this is what we are looking at in Nigeria,’’ Del Rio said.

He said La Liga would continue to organise coaching clinics for Nigerian youth coaches and the NPFL/La Liga under-15 tournament which has produced some players for the national under-17 team.

Del Rio expressed optimism that with proper organisation, funding, television coverage and youth system development, the NPFL would soon begin to rank among the best leagues in Africa.

NAN reports that the the NPFL/LaLiga partnership has since 2016 recorded a number of exchange projects between the two leagues, including a tour of Spain by an NPFL All-Stars team.(NAN)
MUYI/OLAL
==========
(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

NFF says late Ogunjobi was an astute administrator, LMC to honour him during Match Day 9 fixtures

Ogunjobi
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, Feb. 11, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says the death of Taiwo Ogunjobi, a former Executive Committee member, is akin to the fall of a big tree.

Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, in a statement quoted NFF President Amaju Pinnick as saying “a big tree has fallen’’.

“I cannot find the words as much as I try. A very big tree has fallen in Nigerian Football and we are all devastated.

“If the NFF had a flag of its own, it would fly at half mast for several weeks.

“Ogunjobi was one of the strongest pillars of Association Football in Nigeria and the entire Nigerian football fraternity will miss him badly.

“The members of the NFF Executive Committee, management and staff of the NFF, members of the Congress, eminent football stakeholders and other workers in football in these shores are in shock,” Pinnick, said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 66-year-old former international defender passed on earlier on Monday after a brief illness.

Ogunjobi, an ebullient and respected football administrator, captained the first set of Nigerian Academicals to defeat the Ghanaian Academicals in the early 1970s.

He was a key member of the then IICC Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan before he travelled to the U.S. for further studies.

The sojourn led to his missing out on being part of the squad which won the 1976 Africa Cup Winners Cup.

He returned to Nigeria a few years later, and was a member of the then young Green Eagles squad.

That was the team Adegboye Onigbinde coached to win the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations silver medal in Cote d’Ivoire.

He made his mark in football administration, winning plaudits and fame while managing the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and Julius Berger FC of Lagos at various times.

He later became the Secretary-General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in 2002 for three years.

Fondly nicknamed “Skippo’’, Ogunjobi in 2006 won election into the NFF Executive Committee led by Sani Lulu and was the Chairman of the federation’s Technical Committee.

Until his death, Ogunjobi was the Chairman of Osun State Football Association.

Meanwhile, the League Management Company (LMC) has also described Ogunjobi’s death as a huge loss to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the larger football family in the country.

In a tribute, Shehu Dikko, the LMC Chairman, said he had difficulties coming to terms with the news of Ogunjobi’s passing.

He described the late ex-international as someone who played a big role in the country’s football as a player and an administrator.

“Ogunjobi is one of the heroes of league football in Nigeria, having captained the then IICC, a traditional club in our league system that stands today as an institution.

“He also later led the club as an administrator to the CAF Champions League finals before rising to the pinnacle of football administration in the country as Secretary-General of the then NFA.”

The LMC Chairman then announced that in honour of the fallen football hero, a minute’s silence would be observed before the kick-off at all NPFL Match Day 9 fixtures on Wednesday.

He added that players and coaches were also to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the dead.

“Ogunjobi during his life time was very passionate about football and while, as Osun State FA Chairman, his state did not have a club participating in the NPFL we always counted on him as one of the sound and effective Match
Commissioners.

“There were hardly any issues in matches he commissioned and we would miss those stabilising effect he brought to league match venues,” Dikko added.(NAN)
BAY/OLAL
==========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

LMC fines Niger Tornadoes N1m for crowd trouble

Fine

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Feb. 5, 2019 (NAN) The League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday fined Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubside Niger Tornadoes Football Club N1 million over the unruly behaviour of their fans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fans’ action was recorded during a Match Day  5 fixture against Bendel Insurance of Benin.

The fixture was played at the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna on Jan. 27 and it had ended in a goalless draw.

According to tweets from the official handle of the LMC, fans of the Minna-based club threw objects, including water sachets, onto the pitch and the technical area during the match.

“Niger Tornadoes have been charged for breaching the Framework & Rules of the NPFL during their Match Day 5 fixture against Bendel Insurance,” the tweet by the LMC @LMCNPFL read.

The Minna-based clubside was also handed a suspended order to play its subsequent home matches behind closed doors, with the order suspended for the probationary period of the rest of the season.

It further said Niger Tornadoes had 48 hours to appeal the sanctions or elect to be dealt by a commission.

NAN reports that Niger Tornadoes are bottom of the 12-team Group A table of the 2018/2019 NPFL season and are yet to record a win, with three defeats and three draws.

Tornadoes will host Sunshine Stars at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna in their next league game.(NAN)

VO/OLAL

==========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

 

Sport

About 70 coaches participating in 2019 NPFL/LaLiga U-15 coaching seminar

Seminar
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Jan. 21, 2019 (NAN) No fewer than 70 coaches drawn from across the country are participating in the  2019 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)/La Liga Under-15 coaching seminar in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the clinic, now in its third edition and designed for Nigerian youth team coaches, officially kicked off on Monday.

NAN reports that the coaching clinic, which will end on Friday, is designed to train youth coaches on how to properly develop and manage young talents using the La Liga methodology. 

The NPFL-La Liga partnership was signed in 2016 and has since recorded a number of exchange projects between the two leagues.

This has included a tour of Spain by an NPFL All-Star team, the opening of the La Liga Nigeria office in Abuja, and the under-15 tournament.

Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of League Management Company (LMC), noted in his remarks at the seminar’s opening ceremony that the 2019 edition was more an advanced edition. 

“We are excited to kick off the third edition of the coaching clinic. Last year’s edition was a huge success.

“This is a follow-up from the success of the first two editions held in 2017 and 2018.

“The first edition was the foundation module and then last year we had the intermediate module. This time we are having the advanced module.

“The idea is about training our coaches on a continuous basis and upgrading their standard and knowledge, as well as bringing in more sophistication and content into the courses.

“We have brought in more experienced tutors and resource persons — the most widely travelled youth coaches from La Liga — and we are very fortunate to have them here today (Monday).

“We hope the coaches we have here will not only listen to them to learn a lot but attempt to implement the insights received, and relay to their various teams,” he said.

Abubakar noted also that the clinic was marking another great day in our partnership with La Liga.

“They are the best league in the world, and we too aspire to be the best,” the COO of the NPFL organisers said.

Also, Javier del Rio, the Managing Director of La Liga/Nigeria, said the fact the partnership was in its third edition said a lot about how much had been achieved so far.

“I will like to thank the NPFL and LMC for taking not only the partnership but also this programme very seriously.

“We believe that this programme is key in order to improve and develop grassroots football in Nigeria.

“We truly believe that this clinic and the Under-15 tournament coming up in a few weeks will really help with the development of football in Nigeria.

“We have brought in top international coaches from Spain to help achieve this,” he said.

NAN reports that the seminar officially precedes the NPFL U-15 Promises Tournament which is scheduled to start in April across different locations in the country.

Present at the opening ceremony were La Liga coaching instructors, Luciano Martel Santana and Antonio Alvarez.(NAN)
VO/DE/OLAL
============

(Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Olawale Alabi)