As the 2008/09 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) officially kicks off today in Moshood Abiola Stadium Abeokuta Ogun State after months of break, it is no doubt going to be amid fanfare.
This is against the backdrop that NPL followers have been missing scintillating soccer actions from their darling clubs which also feature promising soccer stars of world standard.
All of the 20 clubs that will be featuring this season have in one way or the other made adequate preparation to ensure they have a fruitful season.
This involves either the proprietors or the states as the case of ownership maybe, pumping in some good amount of money to enable the management make good buys and otherwise.
However, some new clubs will be debuting in the NPL in the week 1, having gained promotion from the Amateur Division 1 league.
Some of the clubs include Warri Wolves FC and FC Abuja, while the other clubs Gateway FC of Abeokuta and Kaduna United FC are not new to the scene, but have been fluctuating between the premiership and amateur level as a result of relegation from poor performance.
Invariably, in Benin City, Edo State, NPL followers will be missing the top flight soccer actions following the relegation of their darling Insurance FC, that will be plying their trade this season at the amateur level.
But for cities like Enugu, Aba, Akure, Warri, Kano, Minna amongst others is going to be thrills and frills from now on.
Meanwhile, NPL Chairman, Chief Oyuki Obaseki has warned trouble making fans and referee beaters to conduct themselves properly this season as punitive measures await anyone who runs foul of the law
.
In same vein referees have also be warned to keep away from corrupt practices as their indeminities have been up. Centre referee now receives N35600, while AR1 and 2 now get N30,000 and their feeding allowance now N6,000.
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