Owners of the 20 participating clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football Clubs (NPFL) at its Pre-AGM and consultative meeting with the leadership of the League Management Company (LMC) endorsed on-going negotiations with existing and potential sponsors following a report of its commercial activities rendered by the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko.
At the meeting attended by all the 20 Clubs of the elite division of the nation’s professional football league, Dikko announced that a deal with Nigerian Breweries to name Star as an “Official Supporter of the NPFL” under the beer category has reached advanced stages.
“At some point towards the end of the last season, and in view of the successes recorded several corporate bodies expressed interest to partner with the NPFL.
“The Nigeria Breweries PLC is
one of such companies that expressed interest in the league and following exchange of correspondences and a meeting at their head office in Lagos, we have reached agreement on what role they will play and the potential financial and promotional benefits to the league”.
“We hope to in the days ahead finalize and perhaps present Star as the first “Official Supporter” of the NPFL, a category of sponsorship specially created by the LMC as part of its new marketing strategy to accommodate and provide platforms for interested blue-chip corporate organizations to partner the NPFL to support its developmental programs. The objective is to increase its appeal to the fans through massive activation programs that will capture the minds and hearts of Nigerians and indeed global audience ”, Dikko told the Club Chairmen and General Managers.
The LMC Chairman reminded the clubs that one of the biggest challenges of the domestic league is the influence of European leagues on Nigerians and said strategic policies on marketing and management of the League are being developed to curb this erosion of affinity that has affected commercial returns to clubs and the league.
“Winning the hearts, minds and indeed pockets of Nigerians is a top task for us at the LMC. We are therefore adopting creative strategies and tactics to turn around the situation and get Nigerians to love and support the NPFL, which will translate to more revenues for the league and football industry generally”.
Dikko also presented an outline report on the status of LMC contract with Globacom and other sponsorship being worked out by the LMC and the stages of negotiations as well as challenges but assured the meeting that despite the economic challenges and other avoidable issues, the LMC would continue to work to ensure most of the deals on the table are closed as soon as possible.
Chairman of the Club Owners Association, Barrister Isaac Danladi, who is also the chairman of Nasarawa Utd while responding on behalf of his colleagues, commended the LMC for the detailed report and the efforts at improving the fortunes of the clubs through expanded revenue drive for the league.
“I have the mandate of my members to commend the LMC for the successful 2014/15 season and we are also very hopeful that you will build on those successes in the coming season which has already begun with some of the sponsorship deals you have been negotiating. On the Star sponsorship and others, you have our support to go ahead and conclude the deal and maybe present us a full report at the Annual General Meeting in Uyo to enable the commencement of the deal before the new season.
The four newly promoted clubs, Ikorodu United, MFM, Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United were formally admitted into the NPFL meeting for the first time. Also in attendance include the General Manager of Giwa FC, Samson Adamu who said the closing prayers, Issa Matori of Wikki Tourists, Mike Idoko of Lobi Stars and Oscar Keke of Heartland, Akin Akinbolola of Sunshine and Oscar Keke of Heartland. Others are Kabiru Baita of Pillars, Ozor Chibuzor of Rangers, Moses Etu of Warri Wolves, Nse Ere of Akwa Utd, Rasheed Balogun of 3SC, Jude Anyadufu of Enyimba, Ahmed Adulrahman of Dolphins, Emeka Inyama of Abia Warriors among other directors of LMC and officials of the club owners associations
