Why the Nigeria Professional Football League is not improving compare to other African League or European League.
This as always been on my mind why higher rate of Nigerian’s value European League more than their own League.
The truth is if you gather a hundred football fans in Nigeria and ask the team they support or watch most, I am certain that 90 percent of these football fans will name European teams.
The funniest part is that I have met with some on the Nigerian League players who support European teams and also spend time watching them than the League they participate in.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying it is a bad idea watching these leagues but why can’t other countries or our citizens find interest in our own League.
Ask some the so-called professional footballers in the Nigeria League where they will wish to play for and I am sure some of them will start naming European club.
Yes, that is the truth and who doesn’t like what is good for his own career and who won’t want to move to Leagues that are more recognized where he can develop and earn more.
Don’t let me bore you with my stories and let me move quickly to why Nigeria Professional Football League is not improving.
1: Lack of presence of good and quality media
The truth is this Media plays a key part in every organization as this unit help in dishing out information about a particular company or organization.
To get sponsors in the league the League needs to be known in the country and also in Africa at large.
Let me use where I stay as a case study to make you understand this a little better.
I stay in Kwara State Ilorin and there are two teams that play in the Nigeria League in the state which are Kwara United and also Abubakar Bukola Saraki football club.
Taking Kwara United as a case study I tend to realized in my findings that they really don’t have a standard website for the club.
How on earth will a club side do not have a website that will dish out information about their staffs, players or even the team news before a particular match.
Information is a key like they say but it is not utilized in the Nigeria Professional football League.
Take for example the improved South African League has the backing of the media ( DSTV) which give them an edge in Africa for Sponsors to locate them.
People wants to invest their money and time in a place where they will get result and not just for pity’s sake.
The English Premier League is being hyped by their media and it has been the most watched league in the world.
Pre and post match press conference are done by the team but we hardly see that in the NPFL.
What do you even expect from a state that has only three television station running?
There is no quality television station to show the match in the country how do you expect the citizens to watch this in their own country.
Streaming and television options have to be improved. Coupled with that is a need for improved picture quality. Not necessarily HD, but certainly digital and that goes above the level of the league itself. Investment in quality commentators who can explain the game and highlight prospects will be important.
- Lack of fair treatment of players:
Well this is just a pain in my heart when I hear some of the Nigerian league players complain of been owe for months despite getting little money from the club.
I was having a chat with an ex football player in the NPFL and he told me how they some times own them for months without getting paid while the go performing their duty.
Why on earth do you expect players to be committed to the team when he doesn’t get paid for the job he doing.
- Favouratism
To be honest we can never like people the same way but that doesn’t apply to when you do your job right and been committed.
According to the to an ex-footballer in the Nigeria League he said they didn’t renew their contract when they changed the chairman of a particular in that state as this chairman dropped over 30 players for some of his own boys just because I assume power.
Leaving over 30 players who have dedicated their time and energy for the club on the street.
Well I will have to drop my pen here as I will come with other factors why Nigeria Professional football League is not improving.
