The League Management Company (LMC) has confirmed that the 2016/2017 season will begin on January 14, 2017 and end in July of the same year.
The LMC at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday took the decision.
The league body also announced some incentives for clubs in the Premier League.
Kano Pillars will host 2016 Federation Cup champion, IfeanyiUbah, at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano in the season’s first match while the other matches will be held on January 15 at various centres.
“The AGM endorsed January 15 kick-off date and a July conclusion date for the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League season. The first match between Kano Pillars v IfeanyiUbah will be played on January 14,” the LMC wrote.
“The AGM also endorsed incentives to NPFL clubs as proposed by the LMC board in the 2017 budget. There will be N500,000 for away wins, N200,000 for away draws and N250,000 for attracting above 5,000 fans at home games.
“There will also be N200,000 monthly for stadium maintenance, N100,000 for dressing three U-18 players on a match day and one playing 15 minutes and N200,000 for dressing three U-18 players on a match day with one playing at least 45 minutes.”
The LMC said its source of funds for the actualisation of its targets in the season would come from various sources. The AGM also approved LMC’s proposal to start an Under-15 youth league among Premier League clubs in association with La Liga.
LMC said, “Major source of guaranteed revenues for the 2017 NPFL budget is broadcasting, league partners and savings from 2016 while forecasted revenues are from funds due from debtors, expected new sponsors and strategic partnerships.
“The AGM approved LMC’s proposal to start a Youth League (U15) among NPFL participating clubs in association with LaLiga in furtherance to the partnership agreement between the two leagues.”
