Sports
‘LMC, La Liga Partnership Deepens Ties’
A delegation of Spanish
Premier League board, the La Liga led by its President, Javier Tesba arrived Nigeria early hours of Monday to a warm welcome by representatives of the Nigerian and Spanish governments who separately remarked that the technical partnership initiated by La Liga and the League Management Company (LMC) holds a huge prospect of deepening sporting, cultural and commercial ties between the two nations.
Tesba and his team were led by the top hierarchy of Nigeria’s football governing body including President Amaju Pinnick and LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko to the office of Nigeria’s Youth and Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung and later to the residence of the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastián de Erice.
Dalung in his welcome remarks reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian government towards making Nigeria investment- friendly by providing the enabling environment for such partnership between the LMC and the La Liga to succeed.
Barrister Dalung commended the LMC for keying into the policy thrust of government for the development of the elite league which provides jobs for thousands of youths through the 20 clubs and stimulating business activities within the areas matches are played.
“The league in Nigeria is indeed a major tool for social cohesion. Government is committed to putting in place enabling administrative and legal frameworks for international business partnerships”.
According to the Minister, government will work with and support the managers of football in the country for meaningful projects like the international collaboration with Spain.
“It is of significance that the NPFL and La Liga are entering into an understanding that will improve the business aspects of the league in Nigeria. Such areas will boost the earnings of football which will in turn impact positively on the welfare of the players while creating new frontiers for business” Dalung said.
Ambassador Barnuevo while receiving the delegation of LMC and La Liga noted that the partnership will strengthen the already strong cultural and trade ties between his country and Nigeria, stating that “at the moment, Spain is the third biggest buyer of Nigeria’s crude oil”.
On the occasion, the Chairman LMC, Shehu Dikko said discussions that led to the partnership that will be signed on Tuesday was initiated at that inaugural World Leagues Forum meeting in London in 2015.
“Our objective is to be able to move with the times. We need to get our league to conform to international standards and best practices. La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world. They have some of the richest clubs in the world and they have a system which is very attractive to us. The structure and management of their clubs is fantastic as well as the way the government and the clubs relate. They also have legislation by the government to ensure that the league is developed. We need to learn how they’re doing”, Dikko said.
Tebas, the La Liga President expressed delight at the prospects of sharing experiences with the NPFL, noting that while they will be providing technical assistance to the LMC in the administration of the league, they also will in turn learn something from Nigeria.
We are here not only to teach but to share experience and we are sure we can also learn from the Nigerian Professional Football League. This exchange of experience will help us to grow and we’ll ratify this in Nigeria during this visit with a Memorandum of Understanding. Football is not only a commercial issue but also an example of values especially for youths in any country and the La Liga will like to help develop these values for the Nigerian youths. We want to use the names of our stars to transmit the values of the sport. We will also offer our expertise not only to football but to the Nigerian government” Tebas assured.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was at the head of the Nigerian team during the visit to the Minister alongside the LMC Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Nduka Irabor, NFF Executive Board member, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Chairman of Club Owners and Managers of the NPFL, Barrister Isaac Danladi.
Accompanying the La Liga President were Melcior Soler, the Director of Audiovisual Affairs, Fernando Sanz, International Projects Director and Antonio Baradas, Manager, African Affairs.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.