As anticipation builds for the upcoming 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, clubs in the league might have to begin without the much-needed takeoff grant, a situation reminiscent of the previous season.
The revelation comes from the NPFL board chairman, Honorable Gbenga Elegbeleye, who also disclosed that the league victor would be awarded a substantial minimum prize of N100 million (One Hundred Million Naira).
Chairman of the Football Club Owners Association of Nigeria, Chief Okey Kpalukwu, expressed appreciation for the assurance of prize money for the second consecutive season.
Chief Kpalukwu, however, emphasized the importance of considering the possibility of reinstating the takeoff grant, which was valued at N10 million (Ten Million Naira) last season.
He underscored the significance of this grant in aiding clubs to cover initial expenses in the early stages of the season before sponsorships fully come into play.
Elegbeleye acknowledged the cordial rapport between the NPFL board and club owners, lauding their mature handling of disagreements and their collective commitment to elevating the standard of the league.
He iterated that the baseline prize money of N100 million for the league winner would remain intact, with the potential for further increments based on sponsorship acquisitions prior to and during the season.
“The NPFL board is working towards ensuring that the clubs get more financial incentives,” Elegbeleye stated, confirming the NPFL’s intent to enhance the financial rewards for participating teams.
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He also assured that the league winner’s baseline prize money would be set at N10 million, a minimum guarantee designed to motivate the competing teams.
Looking back at the previous season, Enyimba Football Club of Aba clinched the title and walked away with a handsome N100 million, affirming the increasing significance of the NPFL on Nigeria’s football landscape.
In a strategic move to accommodate the Super Eagles’ Africa Nations Cup qualifiers against São Tomé and Principe, the NPFL board has slated the kickoff of the 2023/2024 season for Saturday, September 9, 2023.
All fixtures are scheduled for the same day, aligning with the pivotal national team encounter set to take place on Sunday, September 10, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
As the football community gears up for another riveting NPFL season, the league’s administrators strive to strike a balance between financial stability for the clubs and delivering a spectacle that resonates with Nigerian fans.
The promise of an elevated prize fund for the winner coupled with ongoing discussions about potential takeoff grants underscores the league’s commitment to fostering growth and sustainability within Nigerian football.
