Ubido tasks LMC on completion of NPFL season

Warri Wolves defensive midfielder, Julius Ubido has charged the League Management Company (LMC) to ensure the completion on the field of play the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The Nigerian top-flight and other leagues in the land are on indefinite hold due to the on-going novel coronavirus pandemic after 25 rounds of matches with 13 matches left on the calendar to complete the season.

Ubido said the league body should borrow a leaf from their counterparts in England on proactive measures on ground aimed at seeing to the completion of the on-going English Premier League (EPL).

“No, LMC should not consider ending the season as it is at the moment but see to it that the season is fully completed on the pitch.

“It will be unfair to other teams to pick one team as winner of the season on the ground that such team are on top of the table.

“We understand the reason why the league is on hold at the moment because of the coronavirus crisis but Nigeria is not alone in the crisis.

“Other leagues in the world are considering options to ensure their seasons run its full course.

“England is on the fore front with options to complete their top-flight despite the fact that Liverpool lead others with as many as 25 points gap.

“On our own part a look on the league table showed that the league is still wide open and could be won by any of the teams.

“The difference between the top team and the second is just four points, the third, fourth, fifth teams is not more than two or three points so it will not be fair to consider ending the season and declaring the topmost team winner.

“LMC should emulate the EPL on measures they are coming up with aimed at completing their league season including playing matches indoors, play two matches in a week, protections, safety measures at various stadia, among others.

“All the teams should be provided with equal opportunity to decide its own fate on the field of play.

“We at Warri Wolves favour the completion of the league season so that whoever that emerge winner will earn the respect of other teams,” said the former Heartland utility player.

Ubido however will want the coronavirus crisis to end quickly so that everybody’s life will go back to normal.

“The effect of the coronavirus crisis on us players is too much, one is forced to sit at home doing little or nothing.

“One just do little jogging and training within one’s compound or inside the house which is not the same as training outdoor with teammates and coaches as well as playing competitive matches.

“Of course, normal training makes you fitter than the make shift in-house training. I’m missing the normalcy which we enjoyed in the past and my fervent prayer is for the coronavirus crisis to come to an end so that we will go back to the pitch to continue doing what we know how best to do it,” said the former Lobi Stars’ man.

The Seasiders as Warri Wolves are called are 11th on the 20-team top-flight on 33 points 16 behind league leaders, Plateau United.