Sports

Elegbeleye insists Startimes was only Broadcast offer for NPFL

Published

5 months ago

May 30, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has reiterated that the broadcast rights deal signed with Startimes was not just the only offer it received at the time but the best negotiated partnership that came after over six years of the league not shown on television.

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye made this submission in response to a publication that suggested that the NPFL snubbed an offer of $11million proposed by a shadowy character.

“When the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which I headed came on board, there was not a single sponsorship for the league but we later got an investment partner in GTI that guaranteed N1billion for the season”, Elegbeleye stated.
He recalled that amongst several other terms of reference, the IMC was mandated to secure television broadcast for the league.

“It is on record that the last effective broadcast partnership the NPFL had was with Supersport and it was terminated in 2016. Thereafter the league went on without proper broadcast partner until we signed Propel Sports Africa for streaming and shortly after, Startimes for Direct to Home Satellite broadcast.

“These deals were not signed overnight but took painstaking negotiations that lasted for months because we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do”, explained Elegbeleye.

He said that the NPFL had at the outset insisted that it was open to offers and actually knocked on the doors of several corporate organisations pitching sponsorship of the league.

“We spent time and personal resources travelling to court Corporate Nigeria to sponsor the league with our investment partners, GTI and we invested in efforts to rebrand the league. A consultant was hired for venue branding which offers in-stadium exposure to our potential sponsors and a website was also built for viral exposure. So, where was this phantom $11m dollar briefcase offer all the time”, queried the NPFL Chairman.

He added that the IMC wooed Supersport with a view to bringing the South African broadcast outfit back to the NPFL.
“We couldn’t have rejected any offer when we were practically seeking to entice Supersport back to the extent that we succeeded in bringing them to broadcast the 2022/23 Super 6 Playoff”, continued Elegbeleye.

He urged the public to be wary of parasitic characters that thrive on controversy to stay relevant.

“The NPFL is still very much open to listen to offers of partnership in other areas from well meaning and credible Sports Marketing companies”, Elegbeleye said.

GTI, as the League Investment Partner guarantees to provide funding of N10billion over ten years which ensures fund for the cost of organising the league including match officials payment and winning prize money.

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Sports

Gusau Praises President Tinubu, ValueJet crew for diligence and endurance

Published

3 days ago

October 15, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Tuesday expressed the deep appreciation of the NFF and the Nigeria Football family for the warm words of encouragement from the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR following the Super Eagles’ return from a better-forgotten Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match adventure in Libya.

On Monday, Mr. President put out a statement warmly welcoming the team back to home, and asking for prompt justice from the Confederation of African Football following the inhumane treatment of the Nigerian contingent. Mr. President also commended the proactive coordination between the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of the players.

“We hereby express our deep and sincerest appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his warm and kind words of encouragement. These words have gone a long way to reassure the players of the firm support of the Government and people of Nigeria for what they do and the efforts and sacrifice they make in representing this great country.

“The commitment and love for the team by the Government and the entire nation was aptly demonstrated by the physical presence of the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh at the airport to welcome the team back to Nigeria.

“Mr. President as the father of the nation, has once again demonstrated his concern and keen interest in the beautiful game of football that unites our peoples from all walks of life and across all known mental, physical, spiritual, political and economic boundaries, and which fosters national unity and friendship among peoples and nations of the universe.”

Gusau, who led the delegation to Libya, also commended the captain and crew of the ValueJet aircraft that flew the delegation to and from that country, saying that their patience, diligence, good manners, warmth and endurance made the trip less arduous for the contingent.

“The captain (Mr. Abdul-Latif) and crew were awesome. I must commend, in particular, the captain. He did his job professionally and with a touch of excellence, and even intervened at a point to talk to the airport operatives to allow the NFF leadership to go outside the airport to find a way to hire vehicles for the team. As a fellow North African (Tunisian) who had worked in Libya previously, they were ready to offer him hotel accommodation but not any other member of the crew or any Nigerian, as all the hotels in the city disclosed that they had strict orders not to welcome any Nigerian nationality. He refused their offer and rather opted to sleep in the aircraft with the rest of the crew.

“The captain and crew showed great maturity and kindness. We will never forget them.”

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