The usual questions are pumping up again: why are our Clubs being despatched early from continental competitions with reckless abandon ? Why is the Super Eagles handler , Rohr, not looking in the direction of players from the Nigerian Professional Football League ,NPFL ?
Over the years , this has been a recurring decimal . A sort of embarrassment for a country so endowed with an overflow of talents , that it has conquered the world severally at youth levels.
An inquest would reveal the reasons for this sour taste in our oily mouths. But do we really need to deploy resources to establish the obvious ?
Yet, we must acknowledge the tremendous improvement the league had recorded in recent years. Has the level of organization been raised ? Yes. Is the league more attractive now ? Yes.
Especially in the areas of rebranding , marketing , television rights and the application of the rules. There is more sanity for sure. The various awards coming the way of the LMC officials attest to this.
Ironically , this advancement in the administration of the league has not reflected in the performance of our league winners and flag-bearers , using their miserable continental outing as a yardstick .
Recall that in the ’70s and ’80s , our regular representatives in Africa, Rangers International and IICC Shooting Stars , even Spartans (Later Iwuanyanwu Nationale ), made more respectable progress, finishing as finalists or winners , except lifting the champions league troph, a jinx broken by Enyimba FC in 2003, and retained
the following year.
Notably , the national team was made up with players from the local league . Our clubs and national team played passionate and wonderful football to the admiration of Nigerians who thronged the stadiums with equal passion. All the positive vibes that make today’s local league glow, were absent.
The reality is between both ends of an era. No evidence the quality and competitiveness of our modern league are better in comparison , despite the razzmatazz of today. Where do you stand ?
So, my point is: A strong local league ought to enhance our national team and make our flag-bearers in continental football more competitive. Undoubtably , there is sanity now in the administration and organization of the local league. But should we sacrifice quality and competitiveness on the alter of sanity ? I think I blend is desirable in this disparity contest.
Furthermore , the accolades being enjoyed by our league managers , could be under serious threat if the chaotic season,s kickoff and fixtures are subjected to proper scrutiny. The standard in these aspects is substantially below their African and European equivalents , truth be told.
Unwittingly , we have been made to accept late commencement of the league as a rule rather than an exception . The corresponding effect is that we have to foist Midweek matches on financially unstable clubs in order to catchup with football calendar. At what cost ,u may ask.
Essentially , Midweek games are used to clear backlog of outstanding fixtures or to prevent congestion in other reputable leagues. It is even more difficult where u have environmental challenges.
Here is a country with one of the worst transportation systems in the world. Road, rail, air travels are very deplorable or in some cases not available . But the players and their officials must honour their match engagements from one end of the country to the other within intervals of three days, mostly at night.
Harrowingly , Kano Pillars left their base last Thursday , to arrive Friday in Umuahia where they were guests of resurgent Abia Warriors, Sunday afternoon . The former Nigerian champions got hammered 3-0 and pathetically hit the road again Monday morning to arrive Kano Tuesday . These miracle workers will file out the next day to confront Nassarawa United in another grueling encounter . The fixtures must go on but quality and competitiveness can wait.
Officiating remains a sore point , no matter how hard the LMC officials , to their credit, attempt to whip the match officials into line. Three kinds of referees operate in our league . The competent ones, and they are small in number. The ignorant , painfully , they are the dominant group. And those on suicide mission, ready to take the bullet provided the pay is right. This group is known to those who appoint and those who patronize them.
Unfortunately, some of these matches are televised live on international channels. The traveling team gets so frustrated that their players turn to ball boys as the home boys are always instructed to abandon their duties once their team is ahead. The referees do nothing. Don’t even
trust any added time in our league.
Moreover , the combination of meddlesomeness of government officials and their avaricious stooges in our clubs , will always lead to a predictable end, disaster . As soon as tickets are secured, coaches are fired, players are forced to switch allegiance . Then early exit.
Admittedly , LMC has done well in rebranding and sanitizing our league. It is time to pursue quality with same zeal.
Till next, keep attacking.
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