BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Professional football league may be 33 years old in Nigeria, but the history of a national league in the country dates back to 51 years.
Sports Village Square recalls that a football league on national basis kicked off in Nigeria on unceremoniously on 8 January 1972. But the date is never reckoned with in Nigerian football.
It involved eight clubs. The NFA at the time called for entries from the then 12 states. Zonal league and Challenge Cup zonal winners were registered.
Lagos State had Leventis Ido Tigers while Midwest had Vipers (later Bendel Insurance), From North was Raccah Rovers of Kano, Wunti of Bauchi while Enugu Rangers, the only Nigerian club never relegated, represented the then East Central State.
Also in the inaugural National League were Mighty Jets, Octopus of Port Harcourt and New Nigeria of Kaduna.
After 51 years of football league in Nigeria, Enugu Rangers hold the distinguished honour of being the only sides to have escaped relegation.