"When the king and chiefs go mad or are missing, the village idiot and court jesters will lay claim to the throne" (Xhosa Proverb).
These past 16 months have been horribly tumultuous for Nigerian football. We have witnessed the worst administrative crisis in Nigerian Football. Ever since the start of the crisis (Galadima's ouster leading to Sani Lulu emergence), this period has really set us back a long way.
We still have two bodies laying claims to the running of football in Nigeria (with each one claiming to have the ears of the powers that be), and inevitably slowing the deployment of a roadmap towards credible football development in the country.
To the crux: Ramson Victor Baribote has finally gotten his wish and dream, but at what cost?? He was selected (sic)! Sorry, Elected unopposed, to be the new Chairman of the NPL. He will head a fragmented organization, with vindictive individuals; people, he publicly accussed and challenged their credibility and substance. What kind of an organization will he inherit?? An organization that is broke, disrespected, with little or no goodwill, and is suffering dwindling fortunes. Notably, a situation he help create, given his 16 months "righteous war"!
When other leagues are counting the opportunities emanating from multiple revenue streams and at a time when they are driving towards excellence and an increase in followership, our NPL cannot boast of average attendance of 5000 spectators per game!!
Furthermore, the rot doesn't stop there, Sponsorship of the league has been dogged by cryptic style dealings, wherein the selection of the title sponsor and release of its funds was chaotic (to say the least). Today, the NPL title plus all forms of sponsorship and entitlements (TV rights inclusive) cannot guarantee each team 100 Million Naira per season. Last estimate received was around N20-30 Million (that's being generous!)!!
A South African Sports Marketing firm, valued the worth of the Nigerian football league, as a 8 Billion Naira annual turnover "monster" (given our football patronage and culture, population and geographic spread of the teams, as some driving factors). With this assessment, NO OWNER SHOULD PUT A KOBO in its NPL team. The league should be self-sustaining (if the right things are done). The NPL is a cash cow that doesn't need any form of government support or investment.
Today, the story of the NPL, is akin to the Xhosa parable above. The "real" owners of the league have abdicated "their thrones and passed on their responsibilities", whilst the proverbial "village idiots and court jesters (no target to any of the protagonists or any current/active "actor" in this crisis) have laid claims to control of the league..
I was accosted a couple of days ago by some young people and accused of standing by and watching the crisis brew over, and the funny analogy they gave me, made me laugh. They said "Can the chairman of Leyton Orient (a second div English league team), be contesting and seek s{election} to be the chairperson of the EPL"? or can an official of a seconda division club in Spain be vying for the management of the Premiera Liga!!! Can the PSL in South Africa be run by someone whose affiliations are not part of it??? (I can see the face of Jomo Sono)........According to one former leader…. I dey laugh ooooo!
The management of the league is so shambolic, that we are yet to conclude the 2010-11 league season, at a time other countries are in the 2011-12 season! Incredible... Everyone in the NPL organisation should be sacked!! They are a corrupt bunch and dont deserve to administer over anything (not even their children's lunch money...)
Who are the TRUE owners of the NPL clubs? The State Governors.
I want to appeal to the State Governors, to see their NPL clubs, as self sustaining, fully funded entities that the states can use to generate IGR, ensure that they co-own them with serious and liquid private sector giants. What stops Adams Oshiomole from allowing Bendel Insurance to fall into private hands, and be satisfied that the state maintains a 30% ownership that will generate revenue for the state, instead of its current costs (Insurance players are being owned over 7 months salary, they cannot meet some away match commitments, and have not being paid sign on bonuses, to date) and failings.
Why would Chibuike Amaechi disagree to allow Rivers born private citizens or consortium to buy majority stake in Sharks and Dolphins, and run both to profitability, and bring in the muscle required to turn their financial fortunes around....
Bendel (Edo) Insurance need to get an Estako born Chairman (nominated and ordained by Oshiomole), and watch, the team experience a change in fortune, focus and investment!! (sadly, that's the Nigerian way).
Are the governors aware that they have a socio-economic cash cow on their hands?? Do they know that each NPL club can generate almost 1 Billion Naira in annual turnover, and can easily contribute up to 50-100 Million Naira annually as IGR (Internally Generated Revenue).
Does Talba realize that Niger Tornadoes is a goldmine??? Does he know that the club can run itself without recourse to any kobo from Niger State government??
Does Amaechi know that both Dolphins and Sharks can provide part time jobs for up to 2000 youths in Port Harcourt for up to 38 weeks in a year???
Does Ajimobi understand that the Eko fan base can be exploited by 3SC, to ensure that they reach a weekly revenue target of about 20-40 Million Naira every weekend they play in Ibadan???
What is the mandate of the boards of directors of each NPL club ???
I'd like to make a prediction, I bet, if a State Governor pronounced that the board of any NPL club must raise its own funds, and will receive NO KOBO from the state government, that many appointees will decline accepting the appointment. Let the private investor take control of the clubs......
I still don’t understand the rationale behind state government, keeping control of these clubs, that:
1. They can’t maintain, or partially sustain operations, and budgetary requirements?
2. The players and coaches are at the mercy of greedy "selected and personal interest driven persons" who have no stake or desire to invest in the future of the clubs
3. They will refuse private sector participation and funding?
4. They will not honor their obligations to the team to meet their league obligations due to lack or inability to fund requirements
I BLAME THE STATE GOVERNORS FOR THE NPL IMPASSE (and in a nutshell, the NFA crisis), of the last 16 months.....( I can hear a collective grasp of astonishment from Nigerians!!). Here's why:
1. Their representatives "the club chairmen" have abdicated their responsibilities and allowed the "village idiots and jesters" to take over the NPL
2. They have settled for "individual interest" over the club's best interest, because of the stupid deals (sponsorship and TV rights) they sign up and accept.
3. They have not found and discovered new investors to ensure that government's investments in the clubs are reduced and subsequently whittled down to occasional disbursements
4. They have BADLY compromised and politicized their function, that it is costing the state governments more than they bargained or budgeted (should the state even be paying for a club??)
5. The governors are also part of the problem, the caliber of the individuals appointed as chairmen of NPL clubs, show their interest and level of commitment or lack thereof.
It is my summation that the NPL impasse would have been resolved if the state governments take the rights of ownership of a Premier league club seriously.
Had the "REAL" owners gotten involved, they would have elected an NPL chairman who would seek to PROTECT their interests and secure the best deals possible for their teams.
Many professional football clubs worldwide, sustain themselves through the TV rights money, hospitality and catering services, in field and grounds advertising, and souvenir and replica paraphernalia sales, gates and season ticket holders.
The Emirates consortia paid a huge amount of money to Arsenal, Allianz insurance to Bayern munich, Manchester city got almost 500 Million USD for a 4 year sponsorship and stadium name change from Etihad.
AON and Manchester united was previously the world's leading partnership agreement. Samsung and Chelsea, Southampton FC and Lieberherr, MTN and the PSL of South Africa.
It is clearly evident that State Governors have not wizened up to the FACT that owning an NPL team is a money spinner for the state. WAKE UP !!!!!!
Today, only one state in the Federation seems to understand that. Lagos State, and the appointment of Seyi Akinwunmi, as LASFA Chairman, has begun to reap the desired benefits for the state. That young man is breaking and tearing down borders and driving the state to "the promised land". A true king in the making.... Well done, Eko o ni baje (and you are making sure of it)....
True football club chairmen are not "hungry" people, who "need" the position to become relevant. The position of a club chairman is reserved for successful and wealthy businessmen and administrators. Those who have the acumen to drive profitability out of any sporting entity. Take a look at some of the names of football club owners and chairmen: Benny Elkestine, Alan Sugar, David Gill, David Dean, Roman Abramovich, Tony Fernandez, the Qatari royal family, The richest Ukrainian, Twenty (20) of the top 100 richest people in the world own sporting franchises, etc....
It is a shame to see that we in Nigeria, have not recognised that the ownership of an NPL franchise is a key money spinner, and can generate considerable RoI, IGR for the state and its private sector participating owners.
If allowed, I am ready to make a presentation to the governor's forum on how to turn these teams around and leverage on the over 8 Billion Naira annual turnover potential.
The true "kings and chiefs" must not throw away this throne to the "village idiots and court jesters".... It is time for them to wake up and take this kingdom back.
Let me use this opportunity to wish Ramson Victor Baribote well, in his "achievement"!, we don siddon dey watch, now no more talking, it is time to perform........... You wanted this, fought for it, now you have it.... Lets watch what you do with it........ Good luck son....
To some, I may sound bitter or non supportive, no. I am only tired and worn from the war that has been fought in my name (without my voice), and I am wary of what the current victor (coincidental) can deliver. With a fragmented house and daggers in dark places..... I can almost see the end before the beginning...... I may be to quick to draw, but remember, we have been here before.... So truly and with all my heart, I want to see the young man succeed, but deep down, my grey beards tell me to be apprehensive.....
Sunshine stars giving the referees of one of their matches a ride......... I dey laugh ooo!! When Jide Fashikun ran the story, I bellowed out laughing... What have we not seen in the leagues... And this is at premiership level, please go down to the lower leagues and see what is happening .... Tscchhhuuuu!!! (typical Yoruba woman exclamation), Oturugbeke! Shuo!!! It is worse... this again is the result of the "village...........and co." running our football leagues these past years. I blame the kings and chiefs, who let this happen!!.
Coach Samson Siasia, our own “no nonsense, Robocop” national team coach calls his “reserve bench warming big boys” to order. Bros, if dem no wan play, plenty, Eyimba, Sunshine, KD united and beach soccer boys available…. Have we checked out what Nigerian fathered boys are doing worldwide…. Please, lets not pet anyone to come and spoil our “rejuvenated Green-white-Green” for us. Please carry on bro. Well done….
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