The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has given four stadia the final approval to play host to this season’s Globacom Premier League, which kicked off last Sunday across the country.
According to a letter from the Premier League board dated September 18 and signed by its Head of Competition, Tunji Babalola, the four stadia are the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi and M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
This development means that only the venues of six clubs have been given final approval for the ongoing season.
Dolphins Football Club, Sharks Football Club, Kano Pillars, Wikkii Tourists and Gateway Football Club are those whose venues have been given final approval for the season.
The sixth club, Niger Tornadoes, has decided to play its home games at the Sani Abacha Stadium, the home of 2007/2008 champion, Kano Pillars.
However, 13 grounds have been given provisional clearance to play host to the Globacom Premier League till Week 5 of the ongoing season.
The grounds given provisional approval are Ilorin Township Stadium, Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, Abakaliki Township Stadium, Akure Township Stadium, Liberty Stadium in Ibadan and Sardauna Memorial Stadium in Gusau.
Others are Kaduna Township Stadium, Abubakar Umar Stadium in Gombe, Oghara Township Stadium in Delta, Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and Oleh Township Stadium in Delta.
“The provisional approval given to the identified stadia ends after Week 5. The NPL, however, enjoins the affected clubs to choose from designated stadia for the Under-17 World Cup to be hosted by Nigeria,” the letter from the Premier League board read.
The designated stadia from which clubs affected by the provisional arrangement are to choose from include the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Abuja National Stadium, Sani Abacha Stadium, Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadiumin Enugu, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Ijebu-Ode International Stadium and U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Clubs that may likley change their home grounds are Kwara United, Lobi Stars, Heartland Football Club, Enyimba, Sunshine Stars, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Zamfara United, Gombe United, Bayelsa United, Ocean Boys and Warri Wolves.
However, Enugu Ranger as well as the two Kaduna-based clubs, Ranchers Bees and Kaduna United, would be returning to familiar terrain.
The Kaduna clubs would return to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium while Rangers would take over the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium after several months of playing its home games in either Nnewi or Abakaliki.
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