Bayelsa United, Gateway FC of Abeokuta, Ranchers Bees and Wikki Tourist made their exit from the Globacom Premier League last Wednesday but it was the relegation of Bayelsa United, just one season after winning the title and competing in the CAF Champions League, that attracted attention.
Prior to the team’s relegation this season, the side once led by Rumson Baribote simply failed to reignite the flair that saw them lift the league title a season ago.
This season, the club struggled with financial trouble, with players claiming they are owed wages, bonuses and sign-on fees from the last campaign.
The State government was forced to order an audit of the club’s finances after numerous complaints, but the players remained unpaid, leading to drastic drop in motivation and performances.
A 2-0 loss at Kaduna United condemned the 2009 champions to the lower cadre of Nigerian football, along with Gateway, Ranchers Bees and Wikki Tourists.
For Gateway FC, it was only a matter of time before they returned to the lower division. The Abeokuta based side never looked good all through the competition. Occasional flashes raised some hopes but it was quickly dashed with poor results almost immediately. Efforts to resuscitate the team failed as they finally met their waterloo last Wednesday with their 0-2 loss to Wikki Tourists.
Wikki’s 2-0 victory could not save the Bauchi side as they followed the trio of Ranchers Bees, Bayelsa United and Gateway FC to the lower division.
Galadima scores league low
After assessing the Globacom Nigeria Premier League this season, former NFA chairman
Ibrahim Galadima said the league has not fully developed compared to what it is in the other countries, reports Kate Obodo.
According to the former Kano State sport administrator, the league is still in a zero level. He said there are many things to be put right inorder to be rank with other leagues out side the shore of the country. He cited problems like poor officiating, hooliganism amongst others needed to be tackled, if the league must go forward.
“The league is still not on the ground interms of what we see in order countries. There are many problems militating the handling of the league until this is addressed the league will still remain the way it is.
Unless we start seeing some players in other countries playing in our league I do not thing we are making progress. By the time the standard gets better we start seeing offers from other countries coming to join Nigeria clubs.
Premier League Results
Wed 7th July 2010
Sunshine        2-0     Wolves
Lobi          2-0    Niger
Wikki          2-0    Gateway
3SC Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1-0 Â Â Â Gombe
Kwara          1-0    Heartland
Zamfara       0-0    Sharks
Kaduna       2-0    Bayelsa
Enyimba       2-1    Pillars
Ocean          3-0    R Bees
Dolphins       1-1    Rangers
Glo Premier League TABLE
Team            P     W         D             L          GF         GA         GD     Pts
Enyimba      38     20     10     8     43     25     18                        70
Kano Pillars    38    19    9    10    48    29    19                             66
Sunshine Stars    38    19    7    12    39    30    9                64
Kwara United    38    18    6    14    43    34    9                             60
Rangers    38    15    13    10    34    22    12                                       58
Warri Wolves    38    17    7    14    50    43    7               58
Niger Tornadoes    38    16    7    15    42    38    4             55
Heartland FC Â Â Â 38 Â Â Â 16 Â Â Â 6 Â Â Â 16 Â Â Â 37 Â Â Â 33 Â Â Â 4 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54
Gombe United    38    16    4    18    34    33    1                  52
Kaduna United    38    15    7    16    40    45    -5    52
Shooting Stars    38    14    10    14    27    33    -6    52
Dolphins FC Â Â Â 38 Â Â Â 13 Â Â Â 12 Â Â Â 13 Â Â Â 39 Â Â Â 39 Â Â Â 0 Â Â Â 51
Lobi Stars    38    14    9    15    34    37    -3    51
Ocean Boys    38    14    8    16    32    36    -4    50
Zamfara United    38    13    10    15    30    46    -16    49
Sharks       38    14    6    18    45    41    4    48
Wikki Tourists    38    13    8    17    40    38    2    47
Bayelsa United    38    13    8    17    40    46    -6    47
Gateway    38    11    7    20    33    46    -13    40
Ranch Bees FC Â Â Â 38 Â Â Â 10 Â Â Â 6 Â Â Â 22 Â Â Â 23 Â Â Â 59 Â Â Â -36 Â Â Â 36
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