Bet9ja NNL Kicks off This Weekend...Katken

Actions Return As NNL Commences this Weekend By Niyi Busari The Nigerian National League will commence this weekend across the country with forty registered clubs, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Lawrence Katken revealed to BSN Sports. The Nigeria’s second tier league football also known as bet9ja NNL will now commence its 2017-2018 season this Saturday, April 28, 2018. The statement directs participating clubs to complete their registration procedures and forward evidence of same to the Secretariat on or before April 27, 2018. The statement reads in parts, ‘we are pleased to inform you that 28th April, 2018 has been approved for the commencement of the 2017/2018 bet9ja NNL league season’. ‘To this end, all clubs must submit to the Secretariat of the bet9ja NNL copies of Players/Club contract agreement to be domiciled with the league, and status of payments to the players and officials on or before 27th April, 2018’. Failure to meet up with proper registration requirements, the statement indicates, may lead to outright disqualification of teams. It would recalled that the season’s kick-off has suffered at least two previous postponements due to the inability of some participating clubs to meet up with registration requirements and late inclusion of more participating clubs. Akwa Ibom State’s representatives, Akwa Starlets FC, having been drawn into Group B1, will begin their campaign with an away trip to Utujeremi, Ughelli, Delta State to keep a date with J. Atete FC on Match Day 1, on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Also drawn into Group B1 include Bendel Insurance, Warri Wolves and Gateway United. Others are Spartans FC, Bayelsa United, Shooting Stars Sports Club and Abia Comets.