IMC Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye opens up on reasons for midweek NPFL games

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Gbenga Elegbeleye has explained the reasons for so much congestion in the Nigeria Premier Football League this season.

The Gubernatorial Election initially slated for Saturday, March 11, will now hold on March 18 leading to a change in the schedule for the top tier of the Nigerian league in the coming weeks.

The 2022/2023 NPFL abridged season is currently on mid-season break till the end of the Governorship and states House of Assembly polls and the league boss attributed the delays to use of stadia for political rallies and campaigns.

“We planned that we will have just three mid-week matches but because of the Presidential Election, but it became very difficult for us to align with the same program as regards midweek matches,” Elegbeleye told Brila FM.

“This is due to the fact that most of the stadia we use belong to the state government and when there is a Presidential campaign or rally at the stadium, they will have to shift our matches. The owner of the property wants to use it and we don’t have any choice than to conform with another date.”

Pending a possible change in date, the second stanza of the NPFL is expected to kick off on March 25, with Bendel Insurance and Lobi Stars topping Group A and B respectively after the first stanza.