The George Aluo-led Board of the Nigerian National League (NNL) has been commended for restoring credibility to the country’s second-tier league, with stakeholders linking the renewed confidence to the growing interest from corporate sponsors.
READ ALSO: Stakeholders Accuse Veteran Board Member of Plot to Undermine NBBF Leadership
The commendation came at the end of a one-day mid-season retreat held at the Remo Stars International Stadium, Ikenne, jointly organised by the NNL Board and the Nigerian National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA).
Speaking after the retreat, Chairman of NALCOMA, Mr Godwin Enakhena, said the leadership provided by Aluo has given the league a clear sense of direction, leading to noticeable improvements in organisation, welfare and visibility.
According to Enakhena, “We commend the George Aluo-led Board for restoring confidence in the league, which is now attracting corporate sponsors. The standard of the league has improved, player welfare is better, matches are being streamed live and there is less violence.”
However, Enakhena expressed concern over what he described as the actions of a few referees and club officials whose conduct, he said, threatens the progress made so far.
He condemned poor officiating allegedly driven by financial inducements and desperation by some clubs to secure home victories at all costs.
“While a lot is being done to improve the league, there are still some bad eggs among the referees and even club officials whose conduct can cause irreversible damage to the league. We will not allow a few individuals to destroy our league,” he stated.
As a strong deterrent, Enakhena disclosed that NALCOMA would recommend to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that any referee found culpable of blatantly breaching league rules in a dubious manner should face a life ban.
“We shall be making a recommendation to the NFF that any referee found guilty of such acts should be banned for life. This will serve as a deterrent to others with bad intentions,” he added.
Beyond sanctions, Enakhena stressed the need for continuous capacity building for match officials, calling for regular training, retraining and reorientation to improve officiating standards across the league.
“A half-baked referee cannot do a good job,” he said, insisting that improved officiating is critical to sustaining the league’s growth and protecting its integrity.
The retreat reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to consolidating gains made under the current NNL leadership while tightening disciplinary measures to safeguard the league’s credibility.
 has been commended for restoring credibility to the country’s second){kind=link}