NPL All Stars Committee, Tonic for Solid CHAN Eagles Team, Says Eguavoen 

Kunle Adewale 

Technical Director of Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has hailed the new board of the Nigeria Premier League, (NPL), on the inauguration of an All-stars Committee saddled with the responsibility of picking the NPFL Team of the Month, saying it would help in presenting a very strong CHAN Eagles side during competitions. 

Speaking at the unveiling of the nine-member Committee chaired by former Nigeria international, Daniel Amokachi, Eguavoen, who is also a member of the committee, charged committee members not to be biased in their decision making.

“The Team of the Month will help the CHAN Eagles coaches and the technical department of the NFF in presenting a formidable team that would represent the country in CHAN competitions,” the former Super Eagles Captain noted.

Speaking in the same vien, Nigeria league board Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, expressed satisfaction in the quality of members that constitute the All-stars Committee.

The Team of the Month will be made up of 11 players and a coach with room for reserves that will complete a squad of 18.

Elegbeleye said the decision was arrived at to create aspirational value for the players and coaches.

“We seek to elevate the quality of play and also encourage the coaches to dig deep and offer great formations. With the Team of the week, players would offer their very best to make the squad and with time there will be individual and collective benefits from this,” Elegbeleye noted.

The NPL boss noted that the league board had reached an agreement with La Liga to organize friendly matches with top Spanish clubs for the players that make the team at the end of the season.

“We had an agreement with La Liga to arrange friendly matches with top clubs in Spain and our best players in the league will also have the opportunity to play under the best coaches in Spain,” Elegbeleye explained.

“The idea of a Technical Committee for the Team of the Month may not be entirely new but we are adding  the added flavour  and benefits of going to have an end of the season team, an All-star squad that will spend two weeks in Spain playing friendly games with top La Liga sides.

“This no doubt will be an enriching experience for the players as they will have the opportunity to train and play against some of the very best. It has the added edge of going to form the nucleus of a future CHAN Eagles team,” expressed.

The committee is headed by Amokachi with Mitchell Obi, Segun Agbede and Deji Omotoyinbo as members.

Other members of the Committee include, Eguavoen, Manu Garba, Harrison Jalla, Godwin Uwa and Davidson Adejuwon.