Football: Midseason Break for NNL.... Board Fines Bussdor #.5m

... Sokoto United Face Expulsion

After a hectic seven weeks of top football hostilities, the Nigeria National League (NNL) 2014/2015 will go on two weeks break as the first stanza of the abridged league ends this weekend. 

The league has produced a lot of thrills and frills in the past weeks as teams struggle to win vital points to finish top of their groups to stand a good chance of picking promotion ticket at the end of the season.    

In this regard, some clubs have won matches away from home to consolidate on their quest to gain promotion to the Premier League cadre next football season while have found themselves in the troubled waters because of poor results.  

In a release signed by the NNL secretary, Lawrence Katken, the league will go on two weeks break because of the financial difficulties faced by the clubs, pointing out that the two weeks recess is to allow the clubs ample time to source for funds to execute their matches in the second stanza of the league.

He promised that the League Management is making frantic efforts to alleviate some of the financial burdens of the participating clubs.

The Scribe also said that the second Transfer Window will open on June 29 and end on July, 2015 but warned that clubs indebted to the NNL will not be allowed to buy players during the Transfer Window and may be stopped from participate in the league until all outstanding debts are paid.

In another development, the management of Bussdor FC of Owerri has been fined the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000.00) only for abandonment of match. In addition, Bussdor FC will forfeit three points and three goals for refusal to complete their Week 6 tie against Remo Stars in Ijebu Ode. 

This was said to have contravened  Article 4.2(4) and 4.2 (5) of the Rules and Regulations of the competition just as Bussdor have been warned to pay within 14 days or Article 4.2 (2) will apply.

Meanwhile, NNL has asked  Sokoto State Football Association and  Sokoto United FC to resolve their affiliation saga before one week or the League Management will not have any alternative than to sanction the club as contained in the Rules and Regulations governing the competition.  

However, tough matches will be played across the nation this weekend with contenders and backbenchers looking forward to improve their fortunes.