Leadership (Abuja)
Asuelimen Osasuyi
9 November 2009
Abuja — National League Clubs chairman are canvassing for a return of the National Division One League to the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) since the Nigeria Football Federation have not been able to attract a sponsor for the lower league. They claim after enjoying some level of largesse from the Globacom sponsored NPL in the past they cannot continue this way.
Some of the clubs chairmen and team managers who spoke to Leadership Sports on condition of anonymity during the pre-season seminar/draw for the National League stakeholders in Abuja said, "While we were under NPL, we were taken care of from the Globacom sponsorship of NPL. The little we were given went a long way to solve our problems.
But since we were pulled out of NPL and an interim management committee set up under NFF to handle the lower league, the clubs have been suffering. If they can not get a sponsor for the league, let them return us to NPL. Apart from the money given to us, NPL gave us other facilities that indeed solved some of our problems.
We need the money. If you cannot handle the lower league, give it to people who can work to get a sponsor for the league. They also said that NPL was at the verge of contracting a sponsor for the National League before they were pulled out from NPL."
Reacting to the call, the National League Interim Management Committee Secretary, Ayo Abdulrahman disclosed that the Nigeria Football Federation will name a sponsor for the league before the commencement of the league slated for November 21, 2009. "Talks are going on with some companies, but if you have any company, tell us and we will discuss with them, if they will be forth coming and faster than the one we are currently discussing with.
Let me tell you that no contract was signed by NPL for the National League. You only enjoyed goodwill while with NPL. I want to tell you that efforts are being made for the National League to get a sponsor. Discussions are on only that it has not materialized." Speaking during the seminar, CAF instructor and chairman of Nigeria coaches Association, Chief Fetus Adegboye Onigbinde charged the NFF to step up action and get a sponsor for the lower league, noting that the clubs are suffering.
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