Nembe City has received provisional approval from the League Management Company (LMC) to participate in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season but with an additional proviso that the Club must send a written acknowledgement stating it has read and understood all the conditions set forth in the letter of admittance. The acknowledgement is to reach the LMC before 12 noon on Friday, April 5 or Nembe City may not play the Match Day 5 fixture in Uyo against Akwa United.
A letter from LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar informed the Chairman of Nembe City that the Club has partially fulfilled the conditions set by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) emergency committee meeting to enable the Club be admitted to participate in the league. It however, pointed some serious discrepancies in the documents submitted by the club and directed that such be rectified on or before Match day 9.
The LMC particularly drew the attention of Nembe City to the irregular signature of the Chairman, Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson on separate documents submitted in the course of the registration. It specifically noted that the signatures of Mrs. Rumson on the letter of allegiance and the letter of appeal of their non-registration are not the same. “Nembe City is required to duly fill and submit LMC Form 17 (list of authorized signatories to LMC”, the letter read.
On stadium approval for home games, the LMC said Nembe City has submitted a letter from Krisdera Hotel granting it the use of the Krisdera Hotel Stadium for its home games but demanded that “however, Nembe City is required to submit by Match Day 9 a proper lease agreement with Krisdera Hotel in line with the LMC recommended lease agreement and minimum conditions assuring priority of use on match days and granting unrestricted access”.
The LMC while acknowledging that Nembe City in a letter signed by Mrs. Rumson has declared that the club is not involved in any litigation against the NFF and LMC in any court of law and also provided a list of members of its Board of directors, however noted that “the letter failed to categorically dissociate Nembe City activities from Mr. Rumson Baribote who is serving a 15 year ban by the NFF and is in clear contravention of the rules, currently pursuing several court cases against the football authorities including the LMC”. It was however, also acknowledged that the name of Mr. Baribote was not among the list of board members of the club and that his name has been removed from the official stationery of the Club.
“Accordingly, the LMC will henceforth deal and communicate with only those officials whose names Nembe City has submitted to it in all matters pertaining to the club’s participation in the league, subject to NFF directive on imposition of sanction of three points and three goals in event of a breach of the club’s obligation not to associate with persons banned from football activities by NFF, CAF or FIFA”, the LMC warned.
Nembe City are also to meet requirements on provision of performance guarantee on or before June 24 or it will face sanctions of points deduction while it may be directed to host games outside of the nominated Krisdera Hotel Stadium should it fail to upgrade facilities at the venue as may be directed by the LMC. Furthermore, the Club is also to submit contracts it signed with its management personnel including the General Manager, Financial Officer, Media Officer and Security Officer amongst others while it must also show proof of its head coach having a CAF License B.
Concluding, the LMC wrote, “in view of the foregoing, the LMC has granted your Club provisional registration to participate in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season subject to the LMC receiving a of acknowledgment of the terms and conditions of this letter from your club by 12noon on Friday, April 4, 2014. Your Club will thereafter commence participation from the upcoming Match Day 5 (Akwa United versus Nembe City) on Sunday, April 6 at Uyo”. It assured Nembe City that the outstanding four games not played will be rescheduled beginning from Wednesday, April 9.
