The death of Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano, on Friday morning, has forced the postponement of the Week 19 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) matches scheduled to hold in Kano on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kano Pillars FC is scheduled to play Dolphins of Port Harcourt, while El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri confront Rangers International FC of Enugu.
The matches were scheduled to kick-off on Saturday at the Sani Abacha stadium, Kano at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.
Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the League Management Company (LMC), told NAN in a telephone interview that the postponement became necessary, considering the role the Emir played in the state.
Abubakar said as the custodian of the peoples’ culture in the state, the Emir deserved the respects of all.
“The matches will now be played next weekend; Saturday to be precise. This is an unforeseen circumstance.
“As I speak to you, the visiting clubs are already in Kano, but we have communicated with them on the development,’’ Abubakar said.
He told NAN that the LMC would work out a mode of compensation for the visiting clubs, following the sudden postponement.
The LMC COO urged the clubs to see the development as an emergency that was not premeditated in any way.
Meanwhile, Rangers FC’s General Manager (GM), Paul Ozor, has reacted to the postponement of the match.
Ozor told NAN that rather than reschedule the match for next weekened, the LMC should fix it when the clubs returned from the World Cup break given by the Nigerian league managers.
“We cannot do that; we cannot go to Kano twice within one week.
“The LMC should move the match, but let it be played after the World Cup break. There is no money to run up and down.
“In fact, I have already communicated this position to the COO of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar.
“He (Abubakar) told me that he will look into that. Why is the LMC rushing to play the matches next weekend?”
NAN reports that apart from Saturday’s postponed NPFL matches in Kano, the Sunday encounters at other centres across the country will go on as scheduled.
In Ogbomosho, Crown FC will lock horns with Bayelsa United; Sharks is to host Akwa United in Port Harcourt, while Heartland will trade tackles with Lobi Stars of Makurdi in Owerri.
Gombe United will slug it out with FC Taraba in Gombe; Abia Warriors will travel to Nasarawa to confront Nasarawa United, while Giwa FC of Jos will test their might against Enyimba FC in Aba.
In other encounters, Nembe City will host Sunshine Stars of Akure, while Warri Wolves and Kaduna United will slug it out in Kaduna.
The first round of the NPFL season is scheduled to end on Sunday, June 8.
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