Growing concerns around Slot-buying was one of the major topics discussed in Abuja as NPFL gathered for the Annual General Meeting.
Heartland FC bought Slot from Beyond Limits FA to re-gain entry into the league for the 2024/2025 season after suffering relegation in the preceding 2023/2024 season. They however couldn’t maintain the elite status as they relegated for a second time in row last season, fueling another report of an attempted re-entry another slot-buying, this time from a private owned Kun Khalifa FC, also based in Imo State.
Reacting to this antics, A top NPFL board member was livid, blaming the lacuna created by the framework which gave room for Slot-buying in the 2024/2025 NPFL season which brought Heartland back into the league.
He argued that the scenario might re-occour stemming from failure to erase the article which gave it room in the NPFL framework; which ought to have been addressed and corrected right there and then last season but was left unattended by the clubs, prompting another attempted re-buying of slot for the coming season.
The individual also blamed Slot selling NNL clubs for giving rooms to undeserving and unqualified teams to stake claims to an NPFL Slot, claiming ‘it’s rewards laziness and robs other NNL clubs of sheer hardwork’.
One of the club CEO’s lamented bitterly that Heartland was allowed to play in the league last season without learning their lessons and feeling heat of what it takes to play in the NPFL.
He noted that they went straight back to relegation because they didn’t learn nor know what it means to play the league by virtue of buying Slot.
However, NPFL Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has quashed the possibility of slot-buying in the coming NPFL season.
“Last season Beyond Limit the slot to NPFL. We’re not interested in clubs that qualify from NNL to NPFL but our rule does not permit clubs to sell slots but last season we had a case of dual representation. Beyond Limit and Remo Stars are from the same source and we do not want clubs from same source to be in the NPFL.
“The management of Beyond Limits never discussed money. We had meeting with them and told them this is not allowed, and they agreed they’ll find a way to ease themselves out. We then went ahead to approach Sporting Lagos and Gombe United even without notifying them. Strictly because we didn’t want clubs owned by same source in the league,” Elegbeleye disclosed.
“So the clubs we approached were not interested and eventually Heartland took it. It’s not about money. So if we’ve such situation now we’ll still do the same thing but if that’s not tye case, we’ll not allow any sale of slots,” Elegbeleye emphasized.
The draws for the 2025/2026 NPFL Season has been conducted and Kun Khalifa FC have been drawn. Signaling that they’ll participate in the league after securing qualification from the lower league.
