Nigerian Football
Again, it is winner-takes-all in the Nigerian Premier League
As a departure from last season, the 20 clubs taking part in the Nigeria Premier League taking off next weekend will not have any take-off grant.
But like the 2022/23 season, it will also be a winner-takes-all device as only the eventual champions are guaranteed of any financial benefit.
According to a press release by Godwin Enakhena, chairman Sporting Lagos and secretary to the club owners’ association, the financial implications of season 2023/24 were spelt out by the NPFL chairman, and by extension, the NFF 2nd Vice President, Gbenga Elegbeleye.
This has however not gone well with the clubs, if the statement credited to Okey Kpalukwu is anything to go by. He is a double chairman, heading Rivers United and leading the NPFL Club Owners Association.
While appreciating the NPFL for the minimum title prize money of N100 million, he wants the body to look into the issue of take off grant.
“We want to commend the NPFL board for informing the clubs that the winner of the league this season will get a minimum of N100m, and that this could be more depending on how much they’re able to attract through sponsorship.
“The clubs are however looking forward to the possibility of take off grants like they enjoyed last season which was N10m. This will go a long way in helping the clubs prosecute few games when the season starts before turning to their sponsors”, stated the Rivers United General Manager.
Elegbeleye has however promised that the N100m is the baseline prize money to the league winner but that more money could be given depending on how much sponsorship they’re able to attract before and during the season.
“Let me assure you that the baseline prize money for the winner of the 2023/24 season will be N10m, it could be more but we can’t go lower. Also, we’re working on incentives for the teams during the season”, revealed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 2nd Vice President.
