LMC Proposes Dec 18 Kick-off Date for New NPFL Season

The League Management Company (LMC) has now proposed a new kick-off date of December 18 for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

“Our target now is to start December 18 and end July 9, while our Super 4 will be between December 5 and 11,” disclosed LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko.

“We also plan to start the 2018 season by the end of August 2017.
“All the clubs already have the schedule and planning.

“We want to align our calendar to Europe by the end of the 2017 season, which would be hugely beneficial for us both in terms of organisation, planning and even finances.

“This will get our clubs going in CAF competitions as they will play at least 13 to 15 games before the start of CAF competitions in February 2017.”
This past season ended on October 2.

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation and the Congress of Nigerian Football have applauded Dikko on his award as The SUN Sports Personality of The Year 2016.

Dikko who also doubles as NFF’s 2nd vice president was on Monday named as The SUN’s Sports Personality of The Year 2016, an award won last year by NFF President, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

An elated NFF President Amaju Pinnick said yesterday: “I am very excited about this. SD (Shehu Dikko) thoroughly deserves it because as we have always noted, even at Board meetings, he has done very, very well with the League and the entire NFF Board and the Nigerian Football fraternity are happy with him.

“We believe this is the beginning of greater things to come, including more awards, even at continental and global levels. Shehu Dikko has worked very hard to take the Nigeria Professional Football League to a new level and we will not stop commending him for his efforts, innovation at every turn, energy, passion, diligence and painstaking virtue.”

Chairman of Chairmen of Nigerian Football, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, said on Tuesday that Dikko has set a very high standard for whoever will come after him to head the LMC.

“The Award by The SUN Newspaper for Mallam Shehu Dikko is very well-deserved. He is a shining light of Nigerian Football and we are all proud of what he has brought to the Nigeria Professional Football League and Nigerian Football in general.

“This award confirms that Nigerian Football administrators are indeed working. The NFF President won it last year; this year it is the NFF 2nd Vice President who is also Chairman of the League. We are encouraged and will continue to work even harder.”

Dikko, 47, earned a first degree in quantity surveying before a master’s degree in cost engineering, a post-graduate degree in management and a Master of Business Administration. He became Chairman of the League Management Company 23 months ago.
The awards ceremony will take place in Lagos on 18th February 2017.