Remo Stars will be the first one-man-owned club to win the NPFL title after an earlier feat by Udoji United. But there is a difference between Remo Stars’ exploits and those of Udoji United in 1996.
Remo Stars’ victory is untainted. They won even with three matches to spare. Their victory came directly from the green turf.
Not so for Udoji United, who became Nigeria’s champion, not on the pitch, but in the boardroom. The 1996 league, won by Udoji United, had a controversial end.
Clubs’ officials besieged the Nigeria Football Association secretariat with protests and appeals. On the field, Jasper United, after making a debut in the top division, could have been champions.
When the final whistle was blown in the boardroom, Udoji United upstaged city rivals, Jasper United, to win the league in the NFA boardroom.
Sharks FC, who initially placed second and could have featured in the Abiola CAF Cup competition, lost out despite spirited attempts to remain afloat. A decision of the disciplinary committee, however, changed the face of the table.
Udoji United, formerly in third position, protested that Concord FC, which held them to a goalless draw in the last league match, fielded two ineligible players.
The NFA committee ruled that the players – Churchill Ibari and Louis Ebani – were not properly transferred to Concord FC.
The decision gave Udoji three valuable points and goals that became the league championship clincher.
In anticipation of a possible award of the league to Udoji United, Sharks, who initially placed second, decided to appeal against the throwing out of their Week 7 protest in a match which the club lost 0-3 to Gombe United. Had the appeal sailed through, Sharks FC could have won the league with 61 points.
Thus, Remo Stars can lay claim to being the first single-owner club to win the league in decades.
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