NLO provides career opportunities for young footballers – Ogunlowo
By Michael Odetunde
The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), Dr. Shola Ogunlowo, has urged clubs participating in the league to strictly comply with its rules and legal framework.
Ogunlowo made the appeal during the July edition of the Super Interview on the Sports World WhatsApp platform on Friday.
He said the league is intensifying efforts to prevent some club owners from gaining an unfair advantage by fielding established professional players in a competition designed to develop emerging football talents.
“We have been doing our best to curb the attitude of some club owners who intend to cheat the system,” he said.
According to him, such practices undermine football development in Nigeria by denying young players the opportunity to showcase their abilities.
“These actions are affecting football development in Nigeria because they deny younger players the chance to display their talents by bringing in already established professionals,” Ogunlowo added.
He also alleged that some clubs attempt to manipulate documents to avoid sanctions imposed by the league, describing the practice as harmful to both the NLO and the development of Nigerian football.
Ogunlowo reiterated the league’s commitment to enforcing its regulations and ensuring that all participating clubs operate within the established rules.
Highlighting the league’s impact, he said the NLO has created pathways for many clubs to transfer players to Europe, providing valuable career opportunities for young footballers.
He added that the continued growth and success of the league depend largely on the progress and development of its participating clubs.
More than 400 clubs from across Nigeria are currently participating in the Nationwide League One.
