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Christian Okonkwo harps on fair officiating ahead of new NPFL season opener
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Christian Okonkwo has called for transparency from referees from the opening fixtures in the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this week.
The new league season is set to kick off on Sunday, January 8, 2023, in the country and the former Kwara United player is hoping for fair officiating on the part of referees to avoid home win-at-all-cost syndrome.
The former Sharks of Port Harcourt striker further appealed that payment of players’ salaries and bonuses at the right time should also be taken care of ahead of the new league season.
“When the league starts on Sunday, I want the IMC to make the league standard. Let the referees officiate well. We don’t want foul officiating. We want teams to go away and get points,” Okonkwo told Brila FM.
“We don’t want a home win-at-all-cost syndrome. It is also important to protect players. We don’t want any team to owe players salaries. Even if the salary is one Naira, once it is due to be paid, they should be paid their salaries and bonuses.
“Most of these players don’t have a pension scheme. It is from the salary and bonuses that they take care of their families.”
Akwa United will host Bendel Insurance in the official league opener in Uyo on Sunday. The game will be televised as Nigeria’s top-flight league make a return to television for the first time in a while.
An abridged format campaign, with the Super Six will determine the league champions and continental qualifiers.
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