By Amaechi Agbo
Governor of Enugu State ,His Excellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Akin Dare and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Amaju Pinnick will be special guests at the opening games of the Nigeria National League, Super Eight playoff which gets underway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu today
The trio, among other top dignitaries have confirmed their attendance which underscores the importance of the Nigerian National League.
It will be recalled that the Enugu State government accepted to host the NNL fiesta to lend support to the development of the second tier of Nigerian league.
The Minister emphasized that only the development of the second tier of the league can lead to accelerated football progress. “I am a strong believer in the dictum that developing and equipping the youths of any nation is not only a step in the right direction, but worth investing in”
“I gave my word since I assumed office in 2019 that I will support every facet of youth activities and sports because of its importance in solid nation building. We are totally committed to what we are doing and will not relent”
NNL chairman Senator Obinna Ogba has assured of a hitchfree play-off.
The play-off will begin on Tuesday (today) at the “Cathedral” the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu with four games per day and will run through Saturday 11 September,2021.
The official opening ceremony precedes the last two games slated for Tuesday evening where the Minister is expected to take the ceremonial kick off.
All Eight teams that qualified for the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Eight playoff have landed in Enugu, the host city, ahead of the opening ceremony.
Remo Stars FC were the early birds having arrived Thursday 2nd September,2021 and the first to familiarize with the serene environment of the coal city State.
Bendel Insurance FC of Benin and Niger Tornadoes FC touched down Saturday, while Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan (3SC) and Ekiti United moved into Enugu in the early hours of Sunday. Gombe United breezed in Sunday evening, with El-Kanem Warriors and DMD, two teams from the home of peace, Borno State were the last to storm Enugu.
The Super Eight is the season- ending battle to determine who out of the eight teams will pick the four (4) available tickets to the top flight football division in Nigeria, otherwise known as the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The play off will also see the best two teams from the Northern and Southern conferences fight to see who will be crowned, Champions of the 2020/2021 NNL season.
The teams will know their opponents after the draw for the playoff is held at the well-known Autella Hotels & Suits, situated at the Independence layout, Enugu.
The estimated fourteen (14) matches of the Super Eight Playoff, has been billed to hold at the “Cathedral” the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
