Lobi Stars of Makurdi attacker, Kadiri Samad has expressed a strong desire that the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) will not be cancelled on account of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but expressed optimism that the season will run its full course, megasportsarena.com reports.
With several matches still left to be played in the stalled campaign, Nigerian football fans are apprehensive that League Management Company (LMC) might be forced to call off the season altogether, as the country’s task force leading the war against coronavirus has not hinted about a chance of lifting the ongoing ban on sports activities.
Calling off the halted season would bring about a rehash of two years ago, when Lobi Stars were declared champions by default, because the World Cup in Russia caused a break in the campaign and the LMC were not able to keep up with the continental competitions calendar outlined by Confederation of African Football (CAF).
This time out, though, Lobi Stars were second on the NPFL log when the season was stalled by coronavirus, which means they will end up as runners-up should the season be cancelled by the LMC, which Samad says will not be fair to his team, because he believes they still stand a huge chance of clinching the title through open play.
He, however, admitted during Mega Sports of Star 101.5 FM, Lagos that there may not be enough time to play the season in full any longer, hence his suggestion that the Nigerian league organizers could revert to a Super-6 play-off through which his side and the other title contenders would play out on neutral ground to determine this season’s champs.
The Middle Belt club’s top scorer last season, with eight goals to his name, added that his club had done well before the break and believes they will surely build on what they have achieved before COVID-19 came along, even as he admitted he was happy to have helped his side stay in the hunt for the title after he scored in their victory over visiting Katsina United.
That victory helped the Makurdi -based side stay in the chase with first-placed Plateau United of Jos, who also defeated Warri Wolves of Delta State 1-0 and maintain top spot with 21 points from 10 matches, while Lobi Stars climbed to second place on 18 points with a game in hand.
The crucial win came through a late winner by Samad, who added that, apart from looking forward to winning the NPFL title this season, he also has a personal target was to score up to 18 or 20 goals, all of which he admits would only be possible if the season is not cancelled.
Samad submitted: “I really don’t have a choice in this matter. The decision is really up to the administrators, but it will not be fair to my club if they cancel the season. We have done well so far and we want to win the league again, but cancelling it will stop us from getting it. Maybe they could do something like Super-6 if there is not enough time left to play the full season.”
