The Management Committee of the Nigeria Women Football League, yesterday, April 29, 2020, held a video conference with the representatives of Nigeria Women Premier League, on the face forward for the delayed League season caused by the pandemic Coronavirus, which has forced a lockdown all over the world.
The session which had 97% attendance of clubs’ chairmen and Team Managers, coordinated by the Head NWFL Management Committee, Aisha Falode and the NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ayo Abdulrahman, where the following issues were discussed:
1. Reflection on the disruption of the NWPL League resumption caused by Covid 19
2. A brief by the chairperson on the outcome of the meeting between the Minister of Youth and Sports Development and the Board of Nigeria Football Federation and also the outcome of the NFF Board meeting on the current situation.
3. All the clubs were urged to use the period of the lockdown to perfect all outstanding registration processes which include medicals, provision of proof of payment of players’ salaries.
The Head of the NWFL Management Committee, Falode, reviewed the circumstances surrounding the disruption of the 2019/2020 league resumption.
Falode briefed the meeting on the outcome of the video conference held between the Minister of Youth and Sports Development and the NFF Board members and also the outcome of the NFF Board meeting.
She informed the house on the directive of the Hon. Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, on the insistent, that all leagues for 2019/2020 season must be played.
The Minister gave directives on the resumption of the league, where the core preventive measures of Covid 19 must be strictly observed.
The Management of the clubs were also told not deduct from the player’s salaries as a result of Covid 19; Players’ salaries must be paid up-to-date; appropriate medical tests must be carried out on all players and officials of each club; Clubs must make available a standard and well equipped medical ambulance with a qualified medical doctor; and that the resumption of the new season will be contingent upon when FIFA and Federal Government lift the ban on football activities.
The time of the year when the ban on football must have been lifted will form the decision about the format of the league to be adopted as the Hon. Minister instructed that each league will run for seven weeks to determine the league champions.
The chairperson enjoined all clubs to brace up and make up for all outstanding registration process like medicals, up-to-date proof of players salaries payment, to be completed during the period of the lockdown.
