City FC of Abuja at the weekend won virtually all the awards att maiden edition of the Nigerian National League Club Owners and Managers Association Preseason Tournament. 

The Citizens did not only emerged champions of the maiden edition of the tournament held in Jos the Plateau state capital, they also two of four individual awards in the tournament. 

City finished top of the table after match day six (6) with twelve (12) points having won four out of their five fixture.

Been the most consistent in the preseason, there was no doubt that the Abuja base side was on course to clinch the ultimate prize.

City FC’s Chigozie Akabuike won the best goal keeper ward also attached to the award was the sum thirty thousand Naira (30,000), while Henry David of City FC Abuja emerged as the carted most valuable player award with a sum of fifty thousand Naira (50,000). In the best eleven team of the Preseason, City FC dominated with four players followed by Crown FC, Abia comets Giant brillars and Mighty Jets international who had one player making the team of the preseason.

Best individual performing players were rewarded for their outstanding contributions as Adekunle Oluwareke of Crown FC took the highest goal scorer award, attched to the award was a cash amount of twenty thousand naira (20,000). He scored a total of three goals. Giant Brillars FC of Enugu won the Fair play team award.

 Crown FC of Ogbomosho finished season with nine points, while Abia comets who ended on third position with a goal advantage above Mighty Jets international who finished fourth despite having six points as well.

Giant Brillars of Enugu finish fifth on the log with three points followed by newly promoted side Rahbam FC finish first from the bottom.

Meanwhile, the NNL Chairman George Aluo  described the tournament as a perfect start to the League “I’m happy and overall very satisfied with what NALCOMA have done in this preseason tournament, this a sign of the good things to follow as the league is about to commence, I’m confident that lessons must have been learned, clubs have had the opportunity to blend their teams ahead of the new season” Aluo said.

He further states that the board is working on getting sponsors so that winners of this season’s NNL will be rewarded with cash prizes as well. 

He told Journalists in Jos that official Match balls have been Produced and will be distributed to all the forty participants while each team will have at least ten (10) match day balls, the chairman express confidence ahead of the new Campaign.

The experienced football administrator showered praise on the Plateau state government for creating the enabling environment and also NALCOMA for bringing this dream to reality.

The Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo has revealed that the league body is expecting to announce its sponsors and partners for the 2023/24 season soon. He went further to assure teams of quality officiating and good pitches that are television-friendly.

According to Aluo, “We are working on something and we are at an advanced stage. Very soon we will unfold who are our partners and sponsors.

“But the good thing is that an insurance company like you know, has agreed to put in 5 million naira for the league winners, it could get better.

“If we have sponsors, it means that in our Super Eight all the participating teams will definitely go home with a participation fee. And there will be something for the winners.

“Last season before this present board came in, the winner’s Heartland football club did not get a dime. But this year, we are sure that the league winners will get something and we are going to give all the clubs 10 match balls each which we have already secured a sponsor for that, so it can only get better.

“I’m appealing to corporate Nigeria to support this board and make the NNL a better League, we are the most important League of course.”

“The level of Officiating in the tournament was high, we intend to carry that into the season proper which starts hopefully, on October 28 with the star match between Dakada and 1472. FC of Lagos. So we’re going to make sure that officiating is good. Referees are going to be paid their indemnities and we’re going to monitor the matches very closely.

“We are going to make sure that matches are played in standard pitches and venues as we intend to stream these games. And we want the outside world to see a league that is befitting" he concluded .