Clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will face severe sanctions if they fail to participate in the NPFL Youth League, which was inaugurated by the NPFL Board.
According to NPFL Media, the position of the NPFL Board to sanction teams who fail to register their youth teams and participate in the leagues was conveyed by Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman, after a meeting with Emeka Iyama, Chairman of the Youth League Committee, in Abuja on Friday.
“Participation in this first edition of the Youth League is compulsory for all 20 NPFL Clubs and there will be serious sanctions for any club that for whatever reason failed to present their youth team for the competition,” Elegbeleye warned.
Zonal qualifiers for the NPFL Youth League kick off from February 1-3 in designated centres across the country. The zones are Kaduna for North East and North West, Enugu for South East, Ekiti for South West and Lafia for North Central.
The NPFL Chairman further explained that every senior league’s future is its youth league. “It ensures that younger players are groomed to replace those who would be retired on account of age and injuries or who find employment outside the country,” he added.
According to Elegbeleye, clubs may preserve their culture and ideals while saving money by having players advance from the youth division rather than having to purchase players from other teams.
South-South centre moved to Port-Harcourt
Inyama also added that the Committee is in touch with all the clubs and working with them to ensure hitch-free documentation and the start of the zonal qualifiers.
He revealed that the venue for the South-South qualifiers has been moved to Port Harcourt from Asaba.
All 20 teams are expected to arrive at their zonal grounds on January 30 while the screening for documentation holds January 31.
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