Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye has expressed optimism that the 2022/23 NPFL season will go down as one of the best organised in recent years, reports Completesports.com.
Honourable Elegbeleye who stated this Monday soon after he visited the NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau in his office in Abuja, said his optimism stems from the smooth take-off of the new season and the outcome of the opening game that saw newcomers, Bendel Insurance, beat the home side Akwa United 2-0 in Uyo.
“I am impressed with the opening game of the season and if the result is anything to judge with, I am optimistic that we are in for one the best NPFL seasons in recent years,” Elegbeleye told Completesports.com.
“The officiating was good, the standard of play was superb and the atmosphere was conducive for football. To cap it all, the away side won in a very difficult-to-win Godswill Akpabio international stadium in Uyo.
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“The game was very exciting and challenging for both sides. We expect other games coming up this week to be equally good with the kind of officiating and atmosphere that pervaded the match in Uyo. I am sure we are set for a very good season. ”
On officiating, the former Director General of the National Sports Commission pointed out that he didn’t expect anything lower than what was displayed at the opening game of the season, adding that match officials will be monitored strictly to ensure that they don’t compromise the high standard IMC demands from them.
“To encourage match officials to give us the best officiating, the IMC has increased allowances of match officials by between 40 to 50 per cent. This is to check any form of inducement from clubs who have also agreed not to induce referees,” Elegbeleye stated.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
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