Football
Exclusive: Makinwa Backs Rivers United To Win the ‘Very Improved’ NPFL this Season
Former NPFL manager Henry Makinwa praises recent improvements in the Nigerian league and backs Rivers United as strong contenders for the title this season.
Image Credits: Aubrey Washington/SNS Group
Former Vitoria Setubal striker, Henry Makinwa has weighed in on the improvements the Nigeria Professional Football League has undergone in recent years, stressing the succinct increase in discipline, officiating and player-coach welfare.
A UEFA A Licenced manager, Henry has previously taken in two stints in the NPFL, first with Abia Warriors in the 2018/2019 season, a collaboration which ended somewhat unpleasantly.
But then, he would return with Katsina United the next campaign when they narrowly missed out on the CAF Champions League qualification no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The NPFL has improved under Elegbeleye
Henry credited the progress of the NPFL to the astute management of the League Management Company chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye and believes the division is on the path to being the very best in Africa.
Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, he opined that the league has experienced significant upsurge in managerial and player welfare, and the recent acquisitions of some clubs is a true pointer to that.
"Yes, the NPFL has improved lately under the guidance of Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye the Chairman," Henry told SportsBoom. "Even the officiating is not left out. Recently, we have seen that officials are now being tutored to make the best decisions even when they are faced with the toughest challenges and hostile grounds. That is progress, if you ask me."
"It is improving in all angles because even the players, the managers, are now paid as at when due. Salaries are now guaranteed. "Clubs get sanctioned if they don't pay outstanding salaries — you could even lose your topflight status because of that!"
"Even with the players and managerial signings, every club in the NPFL want the best, even the big teams we know do not have it all their way now because every one has waken up."
"Take a look at Remo Stars for instance, and see how they are competing, Plateau United too, there are no more pushovers. That shows you that if you're not strong enough, you're out the next moment."
With the way things are going, the NPFL will soon become the best league in the African continent.
Henry Makinwa
Rivers Might Win the Title this Term
Quizzed on who he thinks will go on to win the title, the seasoned NPFL gaffer went with Rivers United.
The Adokiye Amiesimaka outfit, who are managed by former Supers Eagles handler Finidi George, currently sit second on 21 points after matchday 10, same tally as leaders Remo who pipped Lobi Stars 1-0 to move joint top of the table.
Despite falling 2-0 to Ikorodu City last weekend, Henry tipped them to go all the way. "I think Rivers....it is a bit early to pick a team now but let me say Rivers United. They look very much like they can do it, but it is still a long way. A lot can happen, so let's see how it goes."
Since he broke loose from the shackles of long hours huddled up in a hot classroom learning Mandarin Chinese and Pinyin at the famous Confucius Institute, UNIZIK, Emmanuel Chinaza has embraced sports and football in particular, and it helped that he grew up in the football-crazy city of Anambra.