Former chairman of the Nigeria National league, High Chief Emeka Inyama, has applauded the present board of the NNL, led by Chidi Ofor Okenwa and his management team, for finally sealing the BET9JA sponsorship deal.
“Let me first of all say a big congratulation to the present board for a job well done. I love the manner with which they have set about their business and I must say they have done really well in only a matter of weeks since the new season started,” Inyama said.
Inyama use the opportunity to clear some air on the records of sponsorship of the Nigeria lower football division.
“I will like to use this opportunity to set some records straight just for the benefit of doubts. It is not true that this is the first time the NNL is getting any sponsor of any kind as some section of the media is reporting. That is absolutely untrue. I am not trying to take the shine off this new board but as former chairman of the NNL, it behoves on me to set the records straight for posterity sake.
“During my tenure, we had IGI as one of our sponsors at some point of the season, they provided the monies we used in settling referees indemnities and paying other expenses accrued in the running of the league. So it really baffles me when some persons claim that this latest deal is the first ever deal signed by the NNL,” he said.
Speaking further, Inyama said, “Let me also reiterate the fact that we started the Bet9ja deal about three years ago. We were almost finalising the deal but had to call it off because the chairman of BET9JA, kunle Suname, was also the chairman of Remo stars, a team participating in the NNL at that time. We realised then, that to uphold the integrity of the league and ensure fair play thrives, there was no way the deal could be struck at that time.
“So when Remo stars eventually got promoted to the NPFL, we returned to them for negotiations but unfortunately, that was towards the tale end of my tenure as chairman of the board. I remember that Bet9ja even gave us a support grant of about 20m Naira to take care of referees indeminities under the caretaker board of NFF Vice president Seyi Akinwunmi.
“Thank God he is alive to bear me witness on this. I repeat, this statements are not intended, to ridicule or deflate the ego of the present board but just to set the records straight and provide a clearer picture of the past.
“We are happy that the new board has continued where we stopped and we are always available to offer any form of advice or support to them when the need arises. Chidi Okenwa is my brother and friend while the very hardworking CEO, Bukola Olopade is also an old time friend. Our dream is to see the NNL transformed to the level that corporate bodies will always want to do business with them in the nearest future.
“As chairman of Abia Warriors, I am a very happy football administrator and hope that by the end of the season, we will have some silverware of any sort to celebrate,” he concluded.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
