Endless rot, decay in professional football league – Gara Gombe

Bala Akintunde of 3SC of Ibadan challenges Reuben Bala of Enugu Rangers during the NPFL/Dozi Mmobuosi Foundation pre-season championship. The kick-off date has been postponed for the third time this season

• Says Match Commissioners’ jobs now for miscreants

Former Chairman of Gombe State Football Association and now Chairman of the State Athletics Association, Ahmed Gara Gombe, has opened up on some of the rots in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Okocha’s position was comprehended on Wednesday by former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu, who stated that those handling Nigerian football, including the league and national teams, pay too much attention on gratification.
 
In the latest take on the matter, Gara Gombe, a former Special Adviser on Sports to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State alleged, yesterday, that some Nigerians have turned Match Commissioning job for NPFL matches into “a rehabilitation engagement, job-for-the-boys and an IDP Camp, where people get some palliatives to overcome destitution.”
  
He said: “I have seen where someone who wants to give out his daughter in marriage, someone who wants to pay school fees for his children and someone who wants to pay his house rent, are given Match Commissioner appointment to take care of their problems. All these are happening in our League. People who support certain candidates and loyal to leaders of our Football are rewarded with Match Commissioner’s appointment,” he stated.

Speaking further, Gara Gombe, who also served as former chairman of Gombe United FC said: “Match Commissioners are integral and essential component of our football. Commissioning of matches is a job for certain categories of people, essentially people with sound pedigree