Clubs in Group A of the abridged 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League have expressed their displeasure over the proposed date for the Super 6 play-off by the Interim Management Committee of the league, The PUNCH reports.
In a letter sent to the clubs which was obtained by our correspondent, the IMC proposed May 23 to June 3 for the Super 6 play-off while the regular season in Group B will end May 21.
According to the IMC, the need to accommodate the outstanding fixtures of Rivers United necessitated the shift in schedule, while match-day 18 will be completed in Group A on May 14 as scheduled.
The proposed schedule leaves potential top-three teams for the play-off in Group B with just two days to make the trip to Lagos, venue of the Super 6.
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“How can a club play a match away from home and you’re asking the club to report after two days for other crucial games like the play-off?” Lobi Stars Chairman, Dominic Iorfa queried.
“Latest reporting time will be Thursday for Saturday or Sunday to kick off my take on the matter.”
An official of a club whose team is involved told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the halt in match-day 18 games till May 21 is unfair to one of the groups.
“My honest take on this is that all the last week’s matches for the two groups should be suspended till all outstanding matches are been concluded.
“Secondly, all the six teams for the play-off will finish their league matches on the same day and report to Lagos at the same time. No club will feel cheated
IMC should look critically into this, as it is not the fault of the clubs that some fixtures have to be postponed.”
In the meantime, the IMC rescheduled all three outstanding games of Rivers United in the run-in to the end of the regular season.
