The organizers of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, have been enjoined to take necessary steps to cub the spate of violence in the league and save it from total ruin, Completesports.com reports.
The appeal was made by the Sunshine Stars’ Cameroonian Head Coach, Emmanuel Deutcsh, while speaking to Completesports.com in Owerri where his side lost 0-1 to the relegation bound Heartland FC last weekend.
Deutcsh said the league was already suffering from widespread apathy among football followers across the country as a result of hooliganism before, during and after matches.
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“There are many many challenges, many fighting here and there. The organizers need to restructure the system. Attack of officials, attack of teams, not providing enough security at match venues, etc,” Deutcsh told Completesports.com.
“Players in Nigeria will train well for a game, embark on an away match and be treated like they are from another country. It is not a good sign for NPFL. The organizers should take time to listen to peoples’ and teams’ complaints”.
Deutcsh reiterated that football was not a barbaric event but a game of pleasure.
“They can defeat you at home. Football is not a barbaric event, it is a game of pleasure like you go to a cinema,” he said.
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“But for us here, we think that football is a fight, a war. You can imagine a female referee beaten in one of the NPFL match venues. It is never done in football anywhere in the world. It should not be so”.
On the NPFL champions, Deutcsh while congratulating Rivers United players and coaches, attributed their success to early preparations.
“They are quality NPFL champions. They merited it. They won the league because they prepared well for it, and started early from the beginning of the season”.
By Chigozie Chukwuleta, in Owerri.
