.As LaLiga
President Counts benefits of Partnership with NPFL
President of
LaLiga, Javier Tebas listed the benefits of the three months old partnership
with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when he was joined by the
Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo to formally open the LaLiga
office in Nigeria located inside the Corporate Headquarters of the League
Management Company (LMC) in Maitama District, Abuja. The LaLiga President
afterwards spoke at a media conference where he restated the Spanish League
body's commitment to making the five-year commercial and technical partnership
with the NPFL a success.
He recalled
that he led a delegation of LaLiga officials to Nigeria in April to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the LMC and noted that "we are here
today to open a LaLiga Office in Nigeria in furtherance of that
understanding".
According to
Tebas, the benefits of the partnership would be attained in phases citing the
coming tour of Spain by a select All-Star team of NPFL players.
In listing
the benefits of the partnership, the LaLiga President stated, "We have
made good progress in the three months of the understanding signed between us
and Nigeria football league and in a few weeks, an All-Star team from Nigeria
will tour LaLiga and we are taking care of the travel and accommodation of 40
members of the team.
"During
this tour, the team will play three matches in Spain and will be watched by the
Directors of top LaLiga clubs who make decisions and this may result in some
Nigeria League players being invited to the clubs. We also will be sending
experts to interact with NPFL Club Managers and share knowledge and also send
coaches to work at the grassroot academies for development of youth
football",
He also
assured the audience made up of the LMC top executives, Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) Board members, NPFL Club Chairmen and the media that with
time, "LaLiga clubs would also visit Nigeria to play friendly
matches...yes, Barcelona can come to Nigeria and that will mean that the NPFL
is a big league".
Some of the
personalities at the ceremony include a representative of the NFF President,
Alhaji Ibrahim Gussau, NFF Board member, Ahmed Fresh Yusuf, LMC CEO, Hon. Nduka
Irabor, LMC COO, Salihu Abubakar, Chairman of Club Owners/Managers Forum,
Barrister Isaac Danladi and the Executive Secretary of Club Owners Forum, Alloy
Chukwuemeka. Also present were Chairman of Abia Warriors FC, Chief Emeka
Inyama, Chairman of El-Kanemi Warriors, Alhaji Zana Mohammed Mala, Godwin
Enakhena, the Chairman of MFM FC and a former Chairman of Lobi Stars FC,
Dominic Iorfa
Tebas said
the partnership is providing opportunities for mutual benefit of both leagues
and concluded, "I am sure that by the time the first five years of the
partnership ends, LaLiga and NPFL will be bigger".
Ambassador
Alfonso Barnuevo said he was happy to see Nigeria and Spain extend cooperation
to football and predicted that there is a bright future ahead.
"As
Spanish Ambassador, I have to express my satisfaction that one of the strongest
institution in Spain, and probably one of the best known worldwide, LaLiga, has
established office in Abuja. I see a bright future ahead", the Ambassador
remarked
"I am
very happy that the already fruitful relationship between Nigeria and Spain is
expanding to other domains. Nigeria is a strategic partner of Spain in energy
matters. As you know, Spain is the third best client of Nigeria, buying 4.6
billion euros in Gas and oil...". Barnuevo added.
Chairman of
LMC, Shehu Dikko in a closing remark expressed appreciation to the LaLiga
partners and took time to list some of the breakthroughs the LMC has made in
recent months, citing a letter of commendation from FIFA on the league's
governance structure.
"We are
delighted by some of the modest achievements we have attained and want to thank
LaLiga for the partnership and their decision to open an office here. More
importantly, we believe more can be achieved with the support of all
stakeholders", Dikko remarked.
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