Mr. George Aluo, Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), has stated that the current board of the second-tier league under his leadership has succeeded in changing the narratives of the most important league in the country in less than a year, while also praising sportswriters for being partners in progress with the league body.
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Speaking to journalists in Lagos as a special guest at the recently concluded Paddysco Sports Award, George Aluo hailed the league and Super 8 in Enugu as a big success, stressing that the league house will build on the triumphs to pursue a more successful league next season.
George Aluo noted that, in less than a year on the saddle, people’s perceptions of the NNL have changed. Before the current board took control in July of last year, some people referred to it as the Inter House League, while others called it a cash and carry league.
“I considered my appointment as the NNL chairman as a challenge because other journalists had done a great job on the NNL before me, according to NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau. However, I’m happy to announce that, one year later, the league has a new identity.
On arguments in some quarters that the Super 8 should be scrapped, Aluo defended retaining it ; saying that it helps determine the true champion of the league.
“At the NNL, we have four conferences and at the end of the season , the two best teams from each of the conferences come to play the Super 8 and what you did at the regular season, you come and replicate it on neutral ground.
“Here it’s no longer a home or away thing and you can see that the four teams that gained promotion to the NPFL are the best in the league; talking about Nasarawa Utd, Beyond Limits, El Kanemi Warriors and Ikorodu City.
“Remember Ikorodu City played relegation play off last season in Kano and this year they got promoted which goes to show that there was a level playing ground. So, I think Super 8 is good because at the end of the season, it affords us the opportunity to take the best teams to the NPFL.
