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By Amos Odhe
Organisers of the Nigeria National League 2023 Super Eight Playoffs have given an assurance that all the clubs competing will be given fair and best officiating as the competition kicks off at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
At a media briefing and draw ceremony held at the Conference hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, NNL’s head of Operations, Emmanuel Adesanya, said all the referees for the NNL Super Eight were tested and trusted, and would give best officiating.
He urged the clubs to refrain from acts of hooliganism, and other negative behaviors that that are capable of marring the competition.
Adesanyan said the NNL Super Eight comprises four clubs from the Northern Conference, which are Kano Pillars, Katsina United FC, EFCC Abuja, DMD FC Maiduguri, and four clubs from the Southern Conference which are Heartland FC, Owerri, FC One Rocket, Uyo, Sporting Lagos FC and Stormers SC, Abeokuta.
The NNL head of Operations commended Delta State Government for hosting the Super Eight PlayOff, even when the state was not among the competing clubs.
President of the National League Club Owners Managers Association, (NACOMA), Chidi Okonkwo expressed the hope that the promotion playoff would bring the best of NNL, saying that the ultimate goal was to have their best teams in the premiership.
He noted with delight the outstanding performances of clubs that gained promotion such as Bendel Insurance, Remo Stars, and Doma Stars which according to him are representing them well.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa assured the competing clubs and their supporters that all would be done to make their stay in Asaba comfortable, saying that there was no security challenge.
While describing football as a game of hard work, task, Tonobok advised the clubs to well organized and orderly, warning that the state government would not tolerate any acts of violence from players or their supporters.
There were goodwill messages from the representatives of the Northern Conference clubs and Southern Conference clubs.
In the draw ceremony witnessed by football icons from across the country, Kano Pillars FC will trade tackle with EFCC in the first match, while DMD will slug it out with Katsina United FC in the Northern Conference category.
In the Southern Conference, Sporting Lagos FC and FC One Rocket of Uyo will clash while Stormers SC of Abeokuta will confront Heartland FC of Owerri in the Southern Conference.