Euromatch partnership will turn around the fortune of Nigerian League – GTI
..Says it's target is to have the best league in Africa
Strategic partners of NPFL, GTI Group, has expressed confidence that the recently signed 3 year partnership deal with Euromatch is capable of turning around the fortune of the country league, noting that the decision of the foreign partners to invest in the NPFL, is a strong vote of confidence in Nigerian football and in the enormous opportunities that exist within the country’s domestic sports ecosystem and the economy at large.
This was stated Thursday by the Group Managing Director of GTI, Abubakar Lawal at a press conference where he officially welcomed Euromatch to the country.
According to him, GTI is particularly delighted that Euromatch chose to become part of the NPFL journey positing that their arrival represents not merely a commercial partnership but a statement that the country’s elite league has the potential to become one of the most compelling football properties on the African continent.
” The NPFL, is a league built around a country of more than 230 million people, millions of passionate football followers, a remarkable pool of young football talent and a football culture that is deeply embedded in our national identity.
“Our league has produced players who have gone on to excel for the Super Eagles and at some of the biggest clubs around the world.
” Every NPFL season, provides an opportunity to discover the next generation of Nigerian football stars. And today, the league has another important reason for optimism with the arrival of Euromatch”,he stated.
Abubakar noted that today, the NPFL is ranked fifth in Africa by FIFA, a position that reflects the quality, competitiveness and growing stature of the country’s elite domestic league but was quick to add that the country must not be satisfied with fifth place just as he informed that the ambition of GTI, is to build an NPFL that competes amongst the very best leagues in Africa and ultimately become a globally recognized brand.
The GTI boss while commending the Federal Government for creating enabling environment capable of attracting such a significant partnership, urged corporate organizations to invest in the country’s premier league.
” My appeal to corporate Nigeria is for them to invest in NPFL because beyond commercial returns, investing in the league is an investment in young people, talent development, employment, entertainment, grassroots football development and the future of the Super Eagles.
” At GTI, our strategic partnership with the NPFL is driven by the belief that Nigerian football can become a powerful economic and social enterprise as we make efforts to put right structures, investment and professionalism together we believe that time has come for more stakeholders to join this journey. Government has a role to play as well as club owners, NFF, media and fans and more importantly, the private sector.
Also speaking, Executive Director of GTI, Nelson Ine, described the $7.5m Euromatch 3 year sponsorship deal, as the first title sponsorship in the country since 2016.
He stated that since GTI came on board in 2022/2023 season, the narratives of the country’s domestic league has changed for the better, noting that though they’ve not fully achieved their target, but they’re gradually getting there.
Ine who disclosed that the target of GTI is to increase the league value to N200 billion in five years and take it to the top of Africa, stated that when this is achieved, it will enhance production and broadcast quality, infrastructure development and higher salary for players
According to him the NPFL is moving forward despite the sudden resignation of board members of NFF because of the structures they put in place which includes bringing some level of corporate balance into the league with no case of financial mismanagement.
“To make sure we have a sustainable league everyone will be proud of, we always consult with the league board and the NFF. We’ve also written a report on league reform which we submitted to the board.
He further expressed happiness that under GTI watch, there has been increase in prize money which were all settled on time alongside referees indemnity while there’s also an increase in the number of privately owned clubs in the NPFL from 2 in the 2022/2023 season to seven in the present season.
On the challenges of the league, Ine noted that there’s need to enforce club licensing requirements across the 20 clubs, improved quality of broadcast content and data management capability, financial accountability and reporting development at club level, fan engagement and matchday attendance increase as well as improved infrastructure and matchday facilities which are still below regional benchmark.
He was however optimistic that with adequate funding and improved infrastructure, Nigerian football will soon rule the world like the country’s music industry is presently doing.
