Abridge League And January 8th Kickoff Date Is Sacrosanct -Elegbeleye

Abridge League And January 8th Kickoff Date Is Sacrosanct -Elegbeleye

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Nigeria's elite domestic league Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has stressed that the Abridge League format and January 8th Kickoff date for the new football season is sacrosanct, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The kickoff date which was initially fixed for December 28 had to be moved by 10 days, at the instant of the Club Representatives who claimed the December date was not realistic in face of the paucity of funds being experienced by most clubs, but the draw for the new season will still hold on December 28.

Elegbeleye in a chat with BSNSports: "The new season will be an abridged league format, and the IMC is not shifting ground on it.

"The January 8th kickoff has been agreed on by both parties."

As regards financial support for clubs going into the new season, Elegbeleye's response is.

“In one of our forums with football league stakeholders on the way forward for the Nigeria league, it was pointed out that clubs need some kind of cash to help fund their logistics.

“Certainly, the IMC will give the club's start-up support but I can not be exact with the figure, as this will be determined by our sponsors." 

Elegbeleye further rejected all the reports that the clubs will get around N200m, as such were mere speculations adding that the clubs will get a takeoff grant.

Elegbeleye wondered if the clubs who are agitating for takeoff grants have been getting much in the last six years.