Sports

Elegbeleye insists Startimes was only Broadcast offer for NPFL

Published

2 years 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

Igoche Mark Announces Burial of Beloved Mother, 82

Published

58 mins ago

November 15, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Renowned basketball promoter and initiator of the Mark D’ Ball Basketball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, will on Friday, November 27, 2026, lay his mother, Mrs. Veronica Oyiba Mark, to rest in Otukpo, Benue State.

Mrs. Mark, fondly known as _En’Igoche_, died at the age of 82. She was born in 1944.

According to the burial arrangements released by the family, the funeral rites will begin on Wednesday, November 25, with a service of songs at her residence, No. 4 Enugu Road, Eupi, Otukpo, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

On Thursday, November 26, a commemoration service will hold at St. Francis Catholic Cathedral, Otukpo, between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. This will be followed by an all-night wake-keep at Pa Obodumu Ooche Compound, Asa 2, from 8:00 p.m.

The funeral proper will take place on Friday, November 27. A requiem Mass is scheduled for 12 noon at St. Francis Catholic Cathedral, Otukpo.
Interment will follow immediately at the family Compound.

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