NPFL advised on league management as SuperSport ends sponsorship

NPFL

Following SuperSport’s stoppage of the sponsorship of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), the League Management Company (LMC) has been advised to look inward towards live transmission of its league matches.

Former Director of Marketing of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Adama Idris, said it has become crucial for LMC to shift base to local stations who, according to him, should be ready to take responsibilities.

“The media organisations within Nigeria like the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) or under the umbrella of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), can’t they put money on the table to sponsor the league of this country as a national assets?”

Adama said sports is big business all over the world and must be seen as such by most of the domestic stations in Nigeria.

SuperSport over the weekend announced that it was withdrawing from the sponsorship of the Nigerian Premier League for alleged irregularities.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles coach, Austin Equavoen, and goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, were on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 unveiled as new handlers of Sunshine Stars of Akure.

They were charged to lift the team from its dwindling fortunes in the NPFL.

Team Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, boasted after the unveiling the duo that Equavoen is the type of coach the Owena Waves needs now.

“He is a well learned coach and somebody with track records that would help the team from the relegation zone. I believe Equavoen has very good chance of doing the job for us,” he said.

Captain of the team, Sunday Abe, pledged his support and that of his teammates for the newly-appointed technical handlers.

Sunshine Stars is currently 18th on the league chat and has an outstanding game with Enugu Rangers of Enugu this weekend.