Prince Chidi Nweze, President and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Cynosure FC, has raised concerns over the decision of the Nationwide League One, NLO, Secretariat to earmark Enyimba Stadium, Aba, for the promotion play-off matches of the South East teams, silvenews.com.ng reports.
The Cynosure boss claimed that such decision clearly betrays the principle of fairness, given the fact that two teams from Abia state, — Jaguar FC, Aba and Right2Win FC, Umuahia, — are also participating in the promotion play-offs.
“This is no longer the group stage games. This is the final promotion series where only the final winner secures promotion to the Nigeria National League, NNL”, Nweze began.
“Therefore, fairness demands that since two teams participating in the promotion play-offs are from the same Abia State, it becomes imperative that the venue is shifted to any venue or state in the South East that has no team in the promotion play-offs. Or better still, take the venue to outside of the South East zone, to places like the South South.
“This will ensure that the teams enjoyed level playing ground. It makes it clear that everybody is convinced that the games are held in utmost neutrality and the winner beats his chest to say, yes, we won fair and square”.
Consequently, with the promotion play-offs billed to get underway on August 7, the certainty of the play-offs holding on that scheduled date hangs in the balance. This follows the decision of the Cynosure FC boss to file an appeal against the choice of Enyimba Stadium as venue for the play-offs to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Appeals Committee.
“We’ve written a petition to the NFF Appeals Committee. We want justice, fairness. We’re not asking for any favour but level playing ground for all the teams”, Prince Nweze explained.
“Our concern is very clear– Abia has two teams in the final play-offs. And taking the game to Aba is a clear abuse or neglect of the principle of fairness and we want NFF to look into it”, Nweze pleaded.
The winner between Cynosure FC, Abakaliki, Jaguar FC, Aba, Right2Win FC, Umuahia and Ekomzy FC, Owerri, will earn the sole ticket for the NNL from the South East after the promotion play-offs.
