After the conclusion of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 in Enugu, four teams, Nasarawa United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Beyond Limits and Ikorodu United, booked places in the elite Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
However, the promotion of Beyond Limits could hang in the balance as the rule does not permits two team from the same owner to play in the same league, thus putting in doubt the participation of Beyond Limits in the NPFL next season.
According to the NPFL rule on ownership of club, Clause 5.10 of the regulations, a person is not allowed to hold/acquire “significant interest” in an NPFL while holding a significant interest in another NPFL club.
It simply means that no individual is allowed to have a significant interest in two or more NPFL clubs.
And with Kunle Soname already credited to be the owner of Remo Stars, a leading team in the NPFL as well as the confirmed owner of the newly promoted Beyond Limits, the possibility of the two teams playing in the next season dicey.
Soname is also the first Nigerian to acquire a European club, C.D. Feirense of Portugal, which he bought in 2015.
Asked to clarify the durability of both Remo Stars and Beyond Limits participating the NPFL next season, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi said the league body would make its position know in the coming days.
“We are aware of the situation; it’s not only in Europe that an individual is not allowed to have two teams in the same league, it’s also in our rule book. But please wait for the official statement from the NPFL,” Owumi pleaded.