‘NFF president Gusau didn’t propose abridged format’ – NPFL Club Owners

By Wale Mustapha

Chairman of Nigeria Premier Football League Club Owners Association, Chief Okey Kpalukwu has denied claims of the NFF president proposing an abridged format for the upcoming season.

News broke on social media that the leadership of the club owners have concluded plans to go by suggestion of NFF President to prosecute new season as they had the previous season.

Kpalukwu, who has just been elected along with other executives to lead the club managers, admitted that the association met with Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as regards new football league season but did not discuss anything related to abridged format.

“It is no longer a secret that the new Club Owners Executive met with the Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau in his office in Abuja on Monday and details of major decisions arrived at were made public by our General Secretary, Mr Godwin Enakhena,” explained the Rivers United General Manager.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NFF President didn’t tell Club Owners and others present at the meeting that the 2023/24 season will be an abridged league.”

Chief Kpalukwu was in shock to learn about the claims in the media, adding that the clubs will do what is best for the league at all times when the time comes for a decision on the best format.

“For now, we await the proposed meeting with the NFF and NPL where decisions on the league commencement date, format and other key decisions will be decided,” he continued.

“Let’s not be in a hurry so that we don’t put the cart before the horse”, stated the Rivers United General Manager.

Chief Kpalukwu will be representing the Club Owners in the new Nigeria Premier League, NPL board alongside Alhaji Suleiman Umar of Gombe United and Dominic Iorfa of Lobi Stars.