The 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season will commence on September 22, if the tentative program schedule released by the League Management Company (LMC) is anything to go by

According to a circular sent to the twenty participating clubs by the LMC, the season is expected to run between September 22, 2019 and May 17, 2020 in conformity to the new CAF calendar.

The tentative calendar carefully enumerated the season’s activities starting from the Club Licensing conformity in August, while also creating space for mid-season break and awareness for CAF continental match weeks.

The Nigerian Super Cup game expected to herald the new season has been scheduled for the weekend of September 7 in a yet to be announced venue. 2018/19 NPFL champions Enyimba will face Aiteo Cup winners Kano Pillars in the encounter.

As it was done last season, the draw for the new season will also be conducted during the Super Cup game.

2019/20 NPFL Season Important Dates

1. Orientation and Induction of new clubs – August 20-21, 2019
   2. Super Cup – September 7/8, 2019
   3. Draws– September 7/8, 2019
   4. NPFL Annual General Meeting (AGM) – September 17, 2019
   5. Season begins – September 22, 2019
   6. Mid-season break – December 30, 2019 – January 10, 2020

7. End of season – May 17 2020

“I remain fully focused on giving my all for the team for the rest of this season and repaying the support shown by the Black-and-Red faithful by hopefully delivering an MLS Cup to Audi Field,” Rooney said.

“My time in Major League Soccer is something I will always be proud of. The supporters in the Screaming Eagles, Barra Brava and District Ultras have made my time in America so enjoyable.

“While the decision to move home was a tough one, family is everything to us and we make this change to be closer to the ones we love back in England. The opportunity to go back home and start the next step of my career in coaching was the factor that made my mind up.

“I would like to thank everyone at D.C. United for the incredible support my family and I have received over my two seasons at the club.”

Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht has died at the age of 22 following a crash during stage three of the Tour de Pologne.

Lambrecht crashed around 60 miles from the end of the race from Chorzow to Zabrze in Poland.

He was taken by helicopter to hospital where he later died on Monday.”The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and team-mates of Bjorg has happened. Rest in peace,” said his team, lotto-soudal

Race director Czeslaw Lang said: “It wasn’t a high-speed descent. It was a straight and wide road.

“He had a moment of hesitation, he left the asphalt and the tragedy occurred.

“The injuries were so serious that we called for a helicopter and an ambulance. He was transported to hospital. His heart started beating again but he sadly died during the operation.”

Lambrecht was riding in his second season at the top level of professional cycling and had been regarded as one of Belgium’s most promising riders.

He won the under-23s’ version of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race in 2017 and finished second in the U23 World Championships last year.

German Pascal Ackermann, who was given the stage victory after the win was taken from Fabio Jakobsen for an irregular sprint heading into the finish line, said “the result of the race doesn’t matter”.

“I was devastated to hear today’s tragic news and I would like to personally send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bjorg Lambrecht and everyone at Lotto-Soudal,” he added.

Alejandro Valverde, the 2018 world road race champion, added: “Deeply sorry for the loss of Bjorg Lambrecht, a cyclist who had demonstrated a lot in a few years.

“My deepest condolences to family, friends and team.”