Nigeria National League (NNL) Chairman George Aluo has advised followers who are anxious to see talents from the second-tier feature prominently in the various national teams to be patient as investments in football requires a period of time to manifest, not like a bakery where bread is baked, sold same day and profit made.
Aluo who spoke on the heels of the positive trends trailing the ‘Most Important League’ since his board took charge of it’s affairs in 2023, appreciated the renewed confidence and credibility that have elevated the status of the NNL.
The league which was riddled with abandoned matches, violence, poor officiating, lacking visibility and was largely referred to as a jungle has since received some positive injections from the present leadership’s strong governance.
Matches from observations are being covered and live-streamed by broadcast production firms delivering games to followers and stakeholders alike.
Beyond Limit FA in action against Inter Lagos in a NNL game
Clubs and players are creating profiles capable of generating followers across the world through their social media platforms.
Partnerships with firms like Betpawa, Sport light Hub and most recently Top tier Sports Management (TSM) have re-routed focus back to the league.
Expectedly these developments have drawn interest from observers who are eagerly waiting to see some of the players called up to the various national teams including the Super Eagles.
Aluo however, has called for patience as the second division league gains more traction in different discourse and media space.
He stated that all the good signs from the investments coming into the league will take time to manifest as it wasn’t a bakery business where bread is mixed and produced the same day with the baker cashing out same day.
Ranchers Bees players during a match action
“Football is not a bakery business where you make bread the same day and get it ready for sale that same day. Players will get invite into the national teams in due course. What we are doing is to create a very good product which will attract the right interest and it will happen very soon. Our league is now being viewed and watched across the world which wasn’t so before. You can see that organisations like Betpawa, Top tier Sport Management , Sport light Hub and others have partnered with us while we call on others to be part of the NNL.
“We appreciate the genuine interest and quality the NNL is generating due to the collaborative efforts by all stakeholders. We must also commend the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau for giving us the backing to take the league to this level. We are getting there but we must be patient for football is not a bread that is prepared the same day and consumed same day,β he said.
Credit: Tayo Ogunseye
