Sports Minister charges IMC to resuscitate Nigeria league
Sports Minister charges IMC to resuscitate Nigeria league
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, has called on the newly inaugurated Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the National Professional Football League (NPFL) to resuscitate the league and bring it to its past glory.
The Minister made the call today in his office in Abuja when he gave audience to the members of the Committee who were there on a visit after their inauguration by the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau at his office.
Dare, who expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the Nigeria Professional Football League which he said was once the pride of the nation charged the committee must work hard and rescue the league from wilderness.
According to him, “our professional league which used to be our pride in this country, is sick today and has become a caricature of its old self which needs urgent attention,” stressing further that once a sport lacks competition, that sport is dead.
The Minster, who assured the committee of government support noted that football can also become a profitable business in the country, if only the league can be resuscitated.
He added that private investors are always ready to plunge in their resources into football if the governance structure and environment is right and therefore called on the IMC to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the rebirth of the league.
Dare informed that President Muhammadu Buhari has put in place the Football Masterplan, which the State Governments are willing to key into and further urged the Committee members to work with the plan and other stakeholders, in order to bring the football league back on its feet.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, assured that members will bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the resuscitation of the League.
He stated that the Committee will also partner with relevant stakeholders with a view to achieving their mandate.
During their inauguration earlier on Friday, an Eleven point terms of reference listed below was reeled out as the guiding principle and the driving force for the committee.
I. Come up with the procedure for rebranding the League with sincerity of purpose, transparency and accountability; thereby creating an enabling environment that will ensure that the inherent benefits of it as a business outfit, is fully maximized.
II. Advise on the legal framework that will attract sponsorship opportunities from reputable corporate organisations, that will make the League a sustainable and viable brand.
III. Draw up modalities for the commercialisation of TV Rights that will represent the highest value of the profit and loss for the domestic league.
IV. Restart the League and draw up a calendar in line with global best practices in achieving the desired objectives and ensure that every Premier League Club has a good playing infrastructure that is TV-friendly, in line with CAF Standards.
V. To ensure that the League is on Television for better evaluation and transparency.
VI. Furthermore, the IMC as a matter of urgency should draw up a check list of tools and activities as well as assign appropriate timelines within which they would be accomplished with a view to having a form of professionalism in the League.
VII. To put up a legal framework and set up modalities for a permanent body to run the League appropriately.
VIII. Review the Club Licensing Regulations in line with the FIFA Club Licensing Rules while incorporating legal, administrative and financing systems and putting in place a structure that will guarantee the basic club licensing requirements ensuring that PLAYERS WELFARE is adhered to strictly by the Club Owners (Payment of Players salaries, contractual terms and certified Insurance schemes).
IX. Review the League framework(s) to ensure compliance, fair and credible officiating, while disciplinary measures for hooliganism must be evaluated to prevent fans and teams from indulging in it.
