The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has suffered a major setback after its official broadcasting partner StarTimes terminated a five-year contract worth over NOK 1 billion.
The termination will take place just a few months after it is signed in November 2023.
Speaking to Premium Times, NPFL board chairman Gbenga Elegbelaje refused to comment on the development, saying, “We do not accept telephone interviews with people we do not know.”
However, two StarTimes insiders confirmed the decision, with one of them saying, “Yes, it’s true (the contract was canceled).” I just talked to my boss. ”
ambitious deal
The deal between NPFL and StarTimes was aimed at promoting and raising the profile of the Nigerian league.
Speaking during the mediation, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau expressed optimism that the partnership would increase interest in domestic football to rival foreign leagues such as the English Premier League.
“We thank God for making this day a reality. It has been our dream and aspiration to do everything to improve our domestic league.
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“Certainly I can’t say we achieved that without putting the Premier League first.
“Thank God, today we can show Nigerians and the world that with the grace of God and the support of corporate partners like StarTimes, we can achieve our dreams,” he said. He said this at the signing ceremony in May.
Under the agreement, Star-Times was initially scheduled to broadcast two games per week, which would increase to four and eventually eight games per round in subsequent seasons.
The partnership is expected to increase sponsorship opportunities and popularity, with Elegbelai predicting an annual increase of N50 million from 2023 to 2028.
StarTimes Office (Photo credit: businessamlive)
Sudden termination reveals old problems
However, StarTimes’ sudden departure poses a serious challenge for the NPFL, which was beginning to regain momentum among fans.
While the league broadcast was a welcome development, early signs were already pointing to another underwhelming campaign, with three Nigerian clubs being eliminated from the CAF competition.
Analysts believe the same problems persist because the root causes, such as mismanagement and lack of accountability, have not been addressed.
The NPFL faces fundamental problems including delayed sponsorship payments, poor player welfare and financial difficulties.
Related Article: NPFL Roundup: Rivers United share with El Kanemi, Enyimba snatch late win in Aba
Players are often delayed in receiving their wages, bonuses and allowances, with some clubs missing the minimum wage of NOK 150,000.
As PREMIUM TIMES previously reported, President Bola Tinubu’s intervention is crucial to saving Nigeria football.
With the exit of StarTimes, the future of NPFL is in jeopardy and the need for swift action is critical to prevent further decline.
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