Vandrezzer dramatically pull out of Nigeria National League

LAGOS-BASED club Vandrezzer FC have withdrawn from the Nigeria National League citing unfair treatment by the organisers of the country’s second division.

The privately owned club announced their dramatic mid-season exit from the league with an official statement on Thursday.

“The Management of Vandrezzer Football Club of Lagos has decided to withdraw from further participation from all activities of the Nigeria National League with immediate effect,” the club said in the statement.

“The decision becomes imperative in view of the fact that the Management and Board of the Nigeria National League as presently constituted has demonstrated enough resolve and communicated same to us in clear terms that our club, with its transformation agenda is not in any way needed in the NNL league.

“Recall that in our bid to reposition the league and open it up to become visible enough to be able to generate revenue in accordance with global best practices; we requested and received a written approval from the hierarchy of the Nigeria National League an approval to stream live, all our games home and away. Our intentions were to expose the league to the world, at enormous expense to us and our sponsors, in order for easy marketability and standardization. 

“Consequently, massive investment was therefore deployed on manpower and equipment in line with industry best practice to deliver quality content in order to promote the league.”

The club listed several instances when they were not allowed to broadcast matches by home teams, and what they perceive as the NNL’s complicity in perpetuating the tendency of home teams to win by any means, including the intimidation of match officials and visiting teams.

Vandrezzer were particular about the incident involving Osun United which they felt the NNL organisers did not handle fairly.

 “Our first game in Ogwash-ukwu was streamed live through the use of 8 cameras. We did same in our week 2 game in Lagos. Same in week 3 at Rojenny stadium in Oba,” the club explained.

“However, in week 4 against Osun United in Osogbo, hoodlums amongst the fans, defiantly allowed into the stadium against the directives from the NNL and NCDC on Covid-19 pandemic protocols; attacked our cameras, vandalized the cables, intimidated players and officials of our team, including the appointed match officials and prevented further recording of the game. Upon a written protest submitted to the NNL on the matter, and in a landmark decision by the League body, Osun United FC was banished to Ilorin, the result of the match was cancelled and scheduled for a replay while Osun United FC were penalized and asked to bear the costs of vandalized items of our club. 

“To our greatest shock, within days of the decision, the NNL reversed itself upholding the result of the match and gave three points back to Osun United. With this development, Vandrezzerfc who was the victim of assault and intimidation had to make another payment to register our displeasure over the new decision. We promptly made a written appeal on this decision of the NNL, which as at the time of this release, is yet to be heard.”

The club mentioned other instances where they felt they were untreated fairly by the league organisers, therefore their need to pull out.