Technical Adviser of table-toppers Lobi Stars Solomon Ogbeide has expressed his displeasure with the revised 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) schedule following the proposed resumption of the league from an indefinite suspension.
Earlier billed to resume on 18 July after the World Cup break, the League Management Company (LMC) announced an indefinite postponement of the NPFL on 16 July as a result of the leadership tussle between Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa over the control of the Nigeria Football Federation.
With the tussle seemingly settled, a couple of days ago, reports emerged that the NPFL will restart on 2 September and end on 28 October, with a congested scheduling that will force each club play their remaining 14 matches in less than two months.
“That the impasse between the two leadership tussle for the soul of Nigerian football has been settled, one is happy to resume the job we know how to do best,” the seasoned tactician told www.busybuddiesng.com .
“But the rescheduling is not too good for us. That’s the only area I am not happy with. That the league is resuming is good, but the way they (LMC) rescheduled the matches, they want to kill the players.”
Lobi Stars occupy top spot on the NPFL log with 43 points from 24 matches, and the former Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves coach says he wants to maintain that position till the end of the season and emerge champions.
“We already set a target for ourselves, and we are pursuing it with all vigour. (Our target) is to lift the championship, recover the title at the end of the league on October 28. That’s our target, and we are working towards it; seriously working towards it.”
The Markudi-based outfit last won the league in 1999 under the tutelage of Ogbeide’s predecessor Godwin Uwua.
NPFL Proposed Revised Schedule For The Remainder of the Season:
MD 25 – 2nd September
MD 26 – 5th September (Midweek)
MD 27 – 9th September
MD 28 – 12th September (Midweek)
MD 29 – 16th September
MD 30 – 19th September (Midweek)
MD 31 – 26th September (Midweek)
MD 32 – 30th September
MD 33 – 3rd October (Midweek)
MD 34 – 7th October
MD 35 – 10th October (Midweek)
MD 36 – 14th October
MD 37 – 21st October
MD 38 – 28th October (End of season)
