The League Management Company (LMC) on Tuesday announced a three-week break for the 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) starting from after Match Day 10 games on Wednesday.
In a circular to clubs in the league, Shehu Dikko, the LMC Chairman, said the break period would be used to check compliance with its regulations.
“The period will be used to, amongst other things, carry out spot checks on clubs’ compliance with the Clubs Certification Regulations of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“It will also allow the clubs’ managers some space to engage meaningfully with the new political leadership in their respective states.
“You may wish to recall that we started the league with a blanket provisional waiver to the clubs to allow them comply with all registration requirements before Match Day 9 when a review will be conducted by the LMC.
“The break period is also a time to revisit club stadium facilities to remedy observed defects as the clubs have so far operated with provisional certificates” the LMC Chairman said in a statement.
Dikko said the break had also become necessary to allow the club managers time to “acquaint themselves and engage meaningfully with their respective new Governor-owners’’.
The statement said the League would now resume on June 14 with games of Match Day 11, which were originally scheduled for May 24.
It quoted Dikko as assuring the clubs, fans and sponsors that the break would not affect the date on which the final games of the season would be played.
“That date is still Nov. 15, as originally scheduled. However, the mid-season break for the second transfer window will now start on July 19 as against the initial July 10.
“The second round games will commence on Aug. 2 with Match Day 20,’’ the statement said