…As NNL / NALCOMA mid-season retreat opens in Ikenne
The board of the Nigeria National League has said that it will continue to put modalities on ground towards improving the league just as they observed with dismay the must win at home attitude of some clubs in the first stanza which was intensified by the realisation that only the first club in each conference will be promoted at the end of the season. It stated this Tuesday at the ongoing two-day Nigeria National League/ Club Chairmen 2025/2026 mid- season retreat holding at Remo Stadium Auditorium Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State. In his opening address, Chairman of NNL, Mr. George Aluo noted they are not perturbed by the mudslinging the board received in the just concluded first stanza season as it has made them stronger and more enthusiastic to do better in the second stanza of the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League season.
According to him, clubs must do things in line with approved and properly guided NNL framework and rules, promising them.that no club is anointed for promotion. ” Our promise is that the League Board will continue to work hard to consolidate our efforts aimed at entrenching a league system that will endure the test of time as well as try to meet the best standards. ” But to achieve this, all hands must be on deck so as to collectively drive the project and I want to assure you that no club is anointed for promotion and every one must play according to the rules of the game Aluo also noted that the board has resolved to take prompt and firm decisions within the framework of the rules guiding the league especially as it concerns hooliganism, assaults, intimidations and harassments of match officials, positing that in order to check this, they’ve adopted a system where weekly matches are monitored either by physical presence of board members or staff, secret assessors or through phone calls by designated officers.
The chairman while expressing regrets that the first stanza witnessed some disturbing incidents and questionable officiating in some matches, promised that the second stanza will be a different ball game so as to ensure that only the best teams get promoted to the elite league. He was also particularly grateful to NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau for his support and President of Remo Stars, Honourable Kunle Soname for bankrolling the retreat, just as he appreciated all their sponsors such as ;Toptier Sports Management Ltd, Batpawa for the Locker Room arrangement, Prostar International Limited and Sports light Hub as well as NYSC TV/ Radio for live transmission of NNL league matches.
In his address, Chairman of National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA), Godwin Enakhena, commended the NNL Chairman, Mr. George Aluo for doing a good job in repositioning the league noting that the association has not failed to give the NNL board the desired support but regretted that the performance of referees in the first round of the league left much to be desired and sort a commitment from the NFF Referees appointment committee on improved officiating in the second stanza. He also commended the board for attracting BetPawa as partners of the league even as he welcomed the new partners; an investment company TSM ( Toptier Sports Management) Limited.
In his remarks, Chief Operating Officer of NNL Mr. Danlami Alamana described the retreat as very apt because it will help address some issues affecting the league such as security, officiating and hooliganism. Declaring the retreat open, President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau who was represented by the Chairman of Ogun State Football Association and an Executive Board member of NFF, AlhajiGaniyu Majekodunmi (Majek) commended the league board for organizing the retreat which will enable the stakeholders take stock of the first stanza of the league season and come up with ideas on how to make the second stanza better. Gusau while wishing them fruitful discussion, urged the NNL board to continue it’s transformation process which he said is receiving accolades across the country. He promised that the football house will continue to support the George Aluo led board just as he cautioned the club managers not to do anything that will tarnish the image of the league.
