More accolades are reeling out in recognition of sterling efforts being undertaken by a leading indigenous sports kit and equipment manufacturer, ProStar International, which on Thursday staged a grand awards ceremony in Abuja for the Nigerian National League (NNL).
Sports247 reports that the epoch making event was in recognition of top achievers for the month of January in the second-tier division of Nigerian football, with several plaques and choice gifts going out to winners in various categories.
Dramatically, the day’s largesse was dolled out by ProStar on a day its founder and chairman, Ambassador Paul Maduakor lost his mother to the cold hands of death, and he had to be represented by the brand consultant, Mr Jide Ojo, but that did not prevent the event from going ahead.
In reaction to the huge splash handed out to the recipients, NNL chief executive officer, Mr Emmanuel Attah stressed that ProStar keeps showing the way that other corporate bodies in Nigeria should follow.
Attah added in an exclusive interview with Sports247 after Thursday’s ceremony, “Our able partners, ProStar International instituted six awards to help us in further development of the national league.
The awards include best player, best coach, best goalkeeper, highest goal scorer and best behaved team, which is very, very important for the most disciplined team.
This will help us to discourage violence and encourage teams that, once they behave well, there’s a reward for them. That’s why, today, all teams are struggling to get that award.
“We also have goal of the month award. That’s why we cannot thank ProStar enough. It’s been a wonderful symbiotic relationship with them. Saying we are the most important league is not just hype … we lead the way and others follow.”
He, however, confessed that efforts of the NNL’s current leadership in taking the lower division to greater and enviable heights is being curtailed by funding, hence his clarion call to other companies to step out and follow ProStar’s lofty example.
“Our ambition, dream and aspiration is to see that we compete with the best in the world. That’s our ambition. Ware not yet there, but almost there. With God on our side, we’ll get to that level; but the major challenge is sponsors.
However, we are doing well, and we know sponsors will come. We know they will surely come,” Attah ended with strong optimism in his voice.
