Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, has described this year’s Eid el Adha festival as very significant for the league’s Muslim community.
In his message to celebrate the festival with players, coaches, match officials and fans of the Islamic faith, Elegbeleye noted that this year’s celebration would be the first in a long time to be marked while the season has been completed.
“In many seasons past, we had matches during the festival, requiring stakeholders to celebrate away from their loved ones,” Elegbeleye said today.
“This is no longer the case this year because we are in off-season and everyone is having sufficient time to celebrate with their loved ones.”
He was quick to clarify that the festival was not a major reason for achieving a calendar stability which aligned with European football season, but has turned out an added perk for concerned stakeholders.
“I use this medium to urge our NPFL Muslim faithful to use this period to show love to everyone but most importantly to reflect on how to contribute to the development of the league,” the NPFL boss added.
“Let us pray for one another, pray for the league and pray for Nigeria to provide us the enabling platform through the NPFL to flourish.
“We remain submissive to the Almighty Allah as we celebrate this year Arafat and Eid Kabir. Happy Jumat and Barka da Sallah.”
The Federal Government declared today and Monday as public holidays to mark the Muslim festival.