Nigerian League: Club Owners direct LMC to restore Giwa, Nembe

Giwa and Nembe were suspended by the LMC prior to the start of the league season.

The owners of clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, have directed the League Management Company, LMC, to restore the league status of Giwa FC of Jos and Nembe City FC of Bayelsa.

The directive came after a harmonisation meeting of the group which ended in the early hours of Thursday, in Abuja.

A letter to that effect was forwarded to the LMC for immediate action. The directive, as issued by the NPFL, was to avert contempt after a Federal High Court in Jos had ordered the LMC to halt the league pending the inclusion of Giwa FC.

Giwa and Nembe were suspended by the LMC prior to the start of the league season. They were accused of not meeting the guideline set by the LMC, particularly that mandating a monthly minimum wage of N150,000 to league players.

The club owners, however, described the reason as pointless; since the players had accepted to collect the N70,000 salary proposed by the affected clubs.

The Chairman of Nembe City, Victor Baribote, later said in an interview that his club would participate in the league season.

"Nembe City played in the last season and was not relegated; Giwa FC were confirmed and promoted to the Premier league at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Warri. So there is no way we will not be part of the league. I know people were worried or got agitated because it's about two weeks that Nembe and Giwa have not been part of the league. Even those teams playing the continental matches, there are times they have three, four, five matches outstanding and we know how to fix it. So, it's something that can be done after our discussion; we will come to an agreement," Mr. Baribote said.

The proprietor of Giwa FC, Chris Giwa, said that he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

He expressed confidence that as league organisers, the LMC would do the necessary things to readmit both clubs into the ongoing league season.

"The meeting was successful, we thank God; it is one thing for people to gather and it is another to finish your deliberation. So, it's a peaceful deliberation and it ended well. I am very confident that my team will participate in the league because we got the promotion by the Grace of God and were promoted to play not to be excluded. Week one and week two matches have been played and we are in week three now; by the grace of God, I am sure Giwa is going to play our week one and week two matches. I am sure the LMC will reschedule our matches by the grace of God," Mr. Giwa said.

The representatives of the clubs owners are awaiting a response from the LMC.

(NAN)

Nigerian League: Club Owners direct LMC to restore Giwa, Nembe.