Sponsorship deal in Nigerian football is gradually evolving an unassuming heights and speedily metamorphosing into a criminal dimensions. Systematically and astronomically peaking to an undesirable dimensions with a well packaged modern day scam.
The active players in this web are also soaked and enmeshed in the dubious clone with no immediate alternative to the cacophonous and strident drenching.
These are the summary of reactions of some of the officials of the Board of Nigeria National League, NNL to the withdrawal of K.C gaming the operator of BET9JA from partnering Nigeria National League as discussed with sports247.ng on Friday.
It was on the news on Wednesday the withdrawal of BET9JA from partnering with Nigeria National League at their Annual General Meeting held in Abuja. Subsequently, different tales of reactions trailed the ugly development as Sports loving Nigerians lambasted the board of Nigeria National League for poor handling of the league citing nepotism, poor officiating, pre meditated fixtures, double punitive measures to erring clubs and officials, flagrant abandonment of matches, poor security arrangements, assault of some coaches and players in broad daylight
Our source who spoke to sports247.ng on the condition of anonymity said thus:
“we were scripted to cover up and pretended ignorant of things, while we maintain criminal silence on so many salient issues” Before I forget, permit me to allude into this,
“History is a succession of events and we cannot change history but be part of future historical events. Many years back, it was our NPL with Globacom as title sponsor. Other sponsors were scared away and Glo imposed with a 350m deal while MTN then wanted to take NNL at its maiden season at 1.2b.
In spite of such favours, Globacom was not forthcoming on its responsibility for about 2 season on the sponsorship deal. However, clubs were made to foot the bills of paying match expenses week in week out”
“Same was reenacted with the NNL/Bet9ja deal wherein for almost two to three seasons, indemnities and other expenses were left at times for clubs to settle, while at times we have backlog of unpaid indemnities and other match expenses. Severally, NFF had bailed out NNL with either take off grant or in taking care of certain league responsibilities.
When Olopade was brought in, you all hailed him yet you are in the picture that he was there at the instance of Bet9ja and merely to cover up the deficiencies of his masters. Though, he tried enough for his cerebral marketing expertise but K.C gaming was not ready for serious business
When he resigned, you equally hailed it in spite of the fact that the league was plunged into crises deliberately to satisfy vested interests. But the problem is ours and are always right, good perfect and faultless”
Sports247.ng further scooped from another source that Bet9ja has never given participating clubs a dime in the last two seasons. He said, Sunday, how would you as a Journalist describe a sponsorship that never parted a single kobo to the participating teams?” Where are they doing that? Have you ever asked wether any NNL clubs received money from the so called Bet9ja in the last two seasons. Take for instance, In NPFL, each of the 20 clubs go home with at least #40 Million Naira (#10M quarterly). Have you also asked Kunle Soname or Olopade how much they give to the teams playing in the league. Nothing!”
“Also, the pressure to promote one of the clubs from South West to NPFL put us in big mess as the fixtures released for Super 8 exposed our pranks and thus elicited series of negative reactions from the stakeholders. We’re helpless due to the fact that relegation of that Club in the last two seasons signalled the end of referee indemnities for the rest of that season. Sunday, you may confirm this from NRA.
“Apart from the above, paucity of fund affected the commentcomment of super 8 last season and NFF later came to our rescue to foot the bill. You would recall that you all complained of bad treatment of Journalists that came to Aba yet we claim we have a sponsor from Bet9ja. I learnt that each Journalist collected Fifty Thousand Naira at the Aiteo Cup Finals in Bayelsa. Nothing like that in Bet9ja. If you have a pocket and such pocket is leaking your valuables, what would you do to such pocket? Your answer is as good as our present situation” He lamented
“Well, we are infinitely incapacitated to talk on these issues but we were pushed to the wall by this emptied and hollowed sponsorship my brother. You may go and see what sponsorship is all about in EPL, Championship, Scottish League, La Liga,Secunda, BUNDESLIGA and many more, you will all see procceeds that go into these clubs during and after the season
“Presently, we are receiving some applications from prospective sponsors but we’re being careful not to fall flat into this mess again”
He therefore assured that Nigerians would see a well packaged League this season different from the previous ones but NNL might not commence on April 3rd as we earlier promised
