NPFL Gara Gombe faults Interim Management Committee composition

Former Chairman of the Gombe Football Association, Ahmed Shuaib Gara Gombe has faulted the procedure that midwived the establishment of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to manage the affairs of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as illegal.

 Gombe believes the committee would not deliver on the mandate handed, noting  that he doesn’t believe in the capacity of the members that constitute the IMC to deliver on the set mandate of getting a league sponsorship and returning the league on television but a handful of the members wouldn’t be able to achieve the set mandate.

The IMC headed by Gbenga Elegbeleye was set up by the Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports Development after the resolution of the LMC and charged with the responsibility of depositing the NPFL.

“I forsee a situation whereby the entire problem of the league apart from corruption, lack of governance structure, transparency, and sponsorship. I don’t know where they are going to get money for sponsorship because we are in serious deficit between the corporate world and the league,” Gombe said on Brila FM.

“All IMC membership apart from one or two names that I know there that have the capacity to attract sponsorship. Outside that, I don’t think we can get the desired results because the composition was based on sentiments without looking at what is going to work.”

The term of reference of the IMC is to come up with the procedure for rebranding the League with sincerity of purpose, transparency and accountability; thereby creating an enabling environment that will ensure that the inherent benefits of it as a business outfit, is fully maximised.

Advise on the legal framework that will attract sponsorship opportunities from reputable corporate organisations, that will make the League a sustainable and viable brand. Draw up modalities for the commercialisation of TV Rights that will represent the highest value of the profit and loss for the domestic league.

Restart the League and draw up a calendar in line with global best practices in achieving the desired objectives and ensure that every Premier League Club has a good playing infrastructure that is TV-friendly, in line with CAF Standards.

To ensure that the League is on Television for better evaluation and transparency. Furthermore, the IMC as a matter of urgency should draw up a check list of tools and activities as well as assign appropriate timelines within which they would be accomplished with a view to having a form of professionalism in the League.

To put up a legal framework and set up modalities for a permanent body to run the League appropriately.

Review the Club Licensing Regulations in line with the FIFA Club Licensing Rules while incorporating legal, administrative and financing systems and putting in place a structure that will guarantee the basic club licensing requirements ensuring that PLAYERS WELFARE is adhered to strictly by the Club Owners (Payment of Players salaries, contractual terms and certified Insurance schemes).

Review the League framework(s) to ensure compliance, fair and credible officiating, while disciplinary measures for hooliganism must be evaluated to prevent fans and teams from indulging in it.