League Management Company (LMC) chairman Shehu Dikko seems to be on another dubious fishing expedition.
This time with a certain REDSTRIKE, an international sports marketing agency based in the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
As usual unveiling the new partners yesterday enjoyed serious media hype.
Reading to comprehend exactly what the mission and vision of the partnership is all about takes an average of one hour to read on the net.
From a layman’s point of view it is understood that the League Management Company (LMC) is only trying to outsource the marketing and media arms of the NPFL to REDSTRIKE and nothing on the table as we speak.
The media hype seems to be based on the expectation from REDSTRIKE.
So what is the difference between Total Promotions Nigeria Ltd, Padmozi Nigeria Ltd and REDSTRIKE?
The League Management Company inherited two sponsorship contracts running into millions of US Dollars from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) – a broadcast right midwifed by Total Promotions and a title sponsorship right midwifed by Padmozi Nigeria Ltd.
Nigerians are witnesses to the glamour and rapid progress of the NPL under late Oyuiki Obaseki/Davidson Owumi/Rumson Baribote.
By the tip of their fingers stakeholders can tell what revenue the Nigeria Premier League generates annually that can be distributed to its affiliate clubs and what is budgeted for indemnities for match officials, capacity building etc.
We saw how two telecoms giants in Nigeria MTN and GLO fought for the sole of the title sponsorship and even dragged themselves to court before the Presidency intervened in the matter.
Where is Shehu Dikko leading us to?
Who is REDSTRIKE? What is their pedigree? Do we really need them?
Shehu Dikko owes stakeholders an explanation on what happened to the NEXT TV deal or we shall compel him and NEXT TV by court action to do so.
Dikko cannot sweep the NEXT TV deal under the carpet as we understand money exchanged hands in the deal, so how did it go sour? We are entitled to an explanation.
The so-called NPFL.TV is premature, totally uncalled for and another wild goose chase.
What the NPFL need now is a return to mainstream cable television.
REDSTRIKE don’t need to trample on the commercial rights of NPFL clubs, the NPFL/REDSTRIKE partnership is unwieldy, cumbersome and completely diversionary.
BY HARRISON JALLA
We just have thieves running every aspect of Nigeria’s life, from the policy makers to law makers, enforcement everyone of them is a criminal. Untill we get them out, things will remain the same.