Last year, the Interim Management Committee, IMC was put in place by the Ibrahim Gusau-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to run the 2022/23 league season.

The IMC did a great job and successfully rounded up the season with a Super Six that took place in Lagos with Enyimba Football Club of Aba emerging as the overall winner. The winner was presented with its cheque on the spot while the indemnities of referees were all paid hence there was no complaints from any quarter.

This is one of the reasons why many gave credit to the IMC and want the Gbenga Elegbeleye-led IMC to continue with the running of the league. Before the IMC took over, the former league managers were highly indebted to the the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA and almost boycotted the 2022/23 season before they got assurance concerning their payments.

Although, the IMC did a great job running the last season but there are some lapses noticed as they get set to continue in office with a different nomenclature – Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

Many believe there are things they need to put in place and some of them can be gotten from the just concluded Naija Super 8 championship, a privately-organised tournament recently concluded in Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan. Newly-promoted NPFL team, Sporting FC of Lagos lifted the trophy of the maiden edition.

One of the things to learn is media coverage. There is no doubt that the Naija Super 8 enjoyed great publicity. Apart from the match being beamed live on cable television, it was widely celebrated in the media on radio, newspaper, television and even online.

The NPFL must not restrict the coverage of the league to few people because every media house has its own reader, listener or follower hence the need to throw it open to all. It is because of the coverage that made the players to lift their games even though some of them are suffering from fatigue.

Also, the newly-inaugurated NPFL must try and promo most of the matches especially match-of-the-week. Such promo will draw attention of fans to the stadium like what we used to have in the past when the likes of Leventis or Julius Berger is confronting Abiola Babes or Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

The NPFL must ensure that all stadia are in good condition just like what was witnessed during the last Naija Super 8 where all matches were played on a beautiful and television friendly soccer pitch. The dressing rooms and the toilet facilities at various stadia must meet FIFA standard. No stadium without water or basic facilities should be approved. And they must also repeat the inspection after the completion of the first stanza.

Even though football is called a media game, it will not be interesting without the fans. The NPFL must come up with something that will attract the fans to the stadium, that is one of the ways sponsors and investors will be interested and attracted to sponsor the league.

According to former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, “The huge crowd at the final of the Supern8 reminded me of the days when the stadia in Nigeria, used to be filled to the brim. Fans would have already filled up the stadium by 11am before a 4pm kick-off. I advise the football fans to take such opportunities to return to the stadiums to start supporting their favourite local team. And I assure you, Nigeria football, shall be great again.”

However, just like the last IMC-organised league, some referees had wrong calls and the same happened at the last Naija Super 8 championship. According to the Founder of Remo Stars Football Club, Ekene, Hon. Kunle Soname, “The near perfect organisation of tournament/league are marred by referees who criminally ruled out good goals as offside.

“Abandoning the game would have brought the game and tournament to disrepute. There must be consequences for bad behavior or incompetence. That is the only way to move this beautiful game forward,” he concluded.

Th Gbenga Elegbeleye-led NPFL must have regular meetings with the NRA alongside the referees to ensure that they have perfect officiating throughout the season.

Another factor that has marred the league in the past is insecurity which has seen hooligans and thugs terrorising people that came to enjoy themselves and watch match but their intimidation or harassment has discouraged many from going close to the stadium but will rather prefer to sit at a lounge or their homes to watch foreign leagues.

In Europe and other leagues across the world, the elderly, children including challenged people are seen in stadium because the place is safe for them to watch match without any harassment. The stadium is seen as a relaxation point where they can go and enjoy themselves.

Due to the shortage of police because of other exigencies, the NPFL can adopt the use of stewards like it is done in England where hefty guys or bouncers as it is called in Nigeria are used to secure the stadium during matches. When arrests are made, they hand over to the police.

There is need for the NPFL to introduce the Man-of-the-match award. It will help to create competition amongst players to do well. They can source for a sponsor to take up that responsibility.

And lastly, the closing ceremony should be improved upon. What was put in place during the Super 8 was good and can be improved upon. Something like what is obtainable in the UEFA champions league or English Premier league will be nice.

The above and others not mentioned are just some of the things the NPFL must put in place to have a near perfect and smooth running of the 2023/24 league season.