Activities to kick-start the 2017/18
top-flight, which began with the on-going club licensing, will enter the next
stage with the annual NPFL preseason tournament from December 11-17 to usher in
the grand season opening matches on January 14, 2018.
The schedule of the new
season’s activities, which has been endorsed by the League Management Company
(LMC), will witness a flurry of activities including the induction and
orientation workshop for the four newly admitted NPFL clubs on December 14 and
the LMC Pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Consultative Meeting with NPFL
participating clubs on December 16 in Kano where the pre-season tournament will
be held.
According to Salihu Abubakar,
the LMC Chief Operating Officer, other activities scheduled for the month of
December include “the draws for the new season, pre-season seminar and spot
checking on clubs' compliance to licensing regulations, payment of players and
officials salaries, status of facilities, etc.”
The LMC have also fixed January
5, 2018 as the final date for submission of Club Licensing documentation by
clubs participating in the league.
The statement read, “January 5 is the cut-off date for compliance with
redemption and settlement of any outstanding payment of salaries arising from
2016/2017 NPFL season to players and coaches and or provision of an acceptable
Financial Guarantee to guarantee the overdue payments and a tentative payment
plan from the club proprietors,