Last season saw a couple of clubs throw in the towel at the early stage, mid-season and towards the later stage of the league.
Bridge FC of Lagos withdrew from the league right from the start of the season while Divine Warriors (former Ocean Boys) of Yenegoa and Bolowotan FC of Ikorodu all withdrew towards mid-season, Apa United of Otukpo and Zamfara united both failed to honour league matches and NNL showed the affected clubs a red card.
Futbalgalore.blogspot.com spoke to some club chairmen on why clubs withdraw from the league and it's interesting to note that they all pointed at lack of funds.
Gafaar Liamid of 36 Lion FC, Toyin Gafaar of Bolowotan FC and Godwin Uti of Brideg FC all said they spent so much yet gain nothing participating in the league and that has compelled them to consider withdrawing from the league.
Inyama told NAN in Umuahia that a couple of improvement will be seen this season; innovations were to ensure a stronger and better 2013/2014 season. The problem of encroachment on the field of play and beating of referees had also been addressed, adding that protest fees had been raised to N100, 000.
“For the first time in the history of the NNL, uniform official match balls of the same size will be used in all venues. It is now compulsory for National League matches to be played with the official match balls. The minimum number of balls in a match should be about 15 at any given time to avoid delay. We have also introduced match assessors as part of match officiating, as well as official National League badges on all jerseys for players,” he said.
32 teams in two groups of 16 teams each will participate in the NNL while four teams(the top two teams from each group) will gain promotion to the Premier League and eight teams ( four from each group) will be relegated to the lower league. As expected the NNL will start on the 15th of February, 2014.
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