Despite all the assurances from Shehu Dikko and the League Management Company (LMC) that it had secured a mouth-watering sponsorship deal for the NPFL since mid-2020, Redstrike is yet to show up with the much-needed cash.
How has the NPFL fared in the last two months? Who pays Indemnities of match officials? What are the legal consequences if there was an established breach of contract from the side of Redstrike? Why is the LMC not complaining that its contract has been breached by Redstrike?
The NPFL 2020/2021 season commenced with a lot of expectations and celebrations of the NPFL TV which the NFF leadership boasted will generate over 18 Billion Naira annually through subscription.
Unfortunately this is not the reality on ground as the LMC is cash-strapped and running into bankruptcy unable to meet basic needs like payments of salaries to its staff running into several months in arrears and indemnities to match officials.
Do Redstrike have the capacity or have a large purse to sponsor the NPFL? Or it’s just a marketing agency using the NPFL platform to hustle for funding for the NPFL? If so why did the NFF licensed the LMC If the same licensing right is now delegated or transferred to a third party?
So, what is the essence of the LMC if they cannot secure sponsors for the NPFL?
So far in the current NPFL 2020/2021 season it is alleged that clubs are now responsible for paying indemnities of match officials and also responsible for their transport and accommodation.
What do we expect from such a league where clubs are responsible for paying indemnities for match officials particularly in a country like Nigeria?
BY HARRISON JALLA
