L
Lovette Ochicha
Guest
The proprietor of Remo Stars FC of Ikenne, Ogun State, Honourable Kunle Soname has fingered win at all cost antics by clubs for lack of investors in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Sports247 reports that Soname, who is also a majority share holder at UD Fareinse of Portugal, noted during a stakeholders’ conference that football fans have also deserted NPFL match venues due to time wasting tricks by many players.
He juxtaposed this with how Nigerians would pay heavily to watch hip-hop star, Rema performe at a stadium, because they want to be entertained, but they would not do the same for a boring league match.
READ ALSO: NFF President Applauds Ademola Lookman’s Ballon d’Or Achievement, Encourages Higher Finish Next Year
Soname, who was once a local government chairman in Lagos State, added, “If people can pay N40,000 each to go and watch Rema perform at a stadium in Benin City, why can’t they do the same for our league?
“Football should be pleasure and entertainment. People should come to the stadium and get entertained watching beautiful football; not seeing desperation for three points.
We don’t want to see a goalkeeper sleeping on the pitch and players falling down all the time because they want to win a match. That’s what pisses me off.”
He charged the football authorities and club owners to impress it upon players and coaches that only attractive displays would bring crowds into NPFL match venues.
“If we keep allowing funny things by players during matches, people won’t come back to the stadium tomorrow.They have not paid to come and see a player sleeping on the field to kill time. That’s not what they have paid for.
What we see most times from our league clubs is that, immediately they score one goal, sleeping and faking injury has started.
I understand that the three points matter, but we must also think about the development of the game; so as to keep track of individual talents,” he advocated.
Soname, who is also the chairman of ValueJet airline and Bet9ja sports betting platform, went on to link the absence of investors in the Nigerian league to poor standards seen during matches.
The out spoken and very articulate football entrepreneur asked rhetorically, “Why are there no investors in Nigerian football? Why do we see our best players on a yearly basis going outside? It’s because we don’t pay enough; that’s what I keep telling people.
If they give you an offer in Benin Republic that they will pay you N3m a month, I am sure you will carry your bag and go there.”
He concluded with a charge to everyone connected to the Nigerian league to join hands together in making the standards better, in order to attract investors into the system and make it lucrative for everyone concerned with the progress of Nigerian football.
“Why are our best players leaving every year? This is because there is not enough money in the league itself. It’s a matter of chicken and the egg … which one comes first?
The investor will not put money because our league is not good enough, but our league will not get better unless the investor puts money,” Soname ended figuratively.
The post Soname Blames Win At All Cost Antics By Clubs For Absence Of Investors In Nigerian League appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Sports247 reports that Soname, who is also a majority share holder at UD Fareinse of Portugal, noted during a stakeholders’ conference that football fans have also deserted NPFL match venues due to time wasting tricks by many players.
He juxtaposed this with how Nigerians would pay heavily to watch hip-hop star, Rema performe at a stadium, because they want to be entertained, but they would not do the same for a boring league match.
READ ALSO: NFF President Applauds Ademola Lookman’s Ballon d’Or Achievement, Encourages Higher Finish Next Year
Soname, who was once a local government chairman in Lagos State, added, “If people can pay N40,000 each to go and watch Rema perform at a stadium in Benin City, why can’t they do the same for our league?
“Football should be pleasure and entertainment. People should come to the stadium and get entertained watching beautiful football; not seeing desperation for three points.
We don’t want to see a goalkeeper sleeping on the pitch and players falling down all the time because they want to win a match. That’s what pisses me off.”
He charged the football authorities and club owners to impress it upon players and coaches that only attractive displays would bring crowds into NPFL match venues.
“If we keep allowing funny things by players during matches, people won’t come back to the stadium tomorrow.They have not paid to come and see a player sleeping on the field to kill time. That’s not what they have paid for.
What we see most times from our league clubs is that, immediately they score one goal, sleeping and faking injury has started.
I understand that the three points matter, but we must also think about the development of the game; so as to keep track of individual talents,” he advocated.
Soname, who is also the chairman of ValueJet airline and Bet9ja sports betting platform, went on to link the absence of investors in the Nigerian league to poor standards seen during matches.
The out spoken and very articulate football entrepreneur asked rhetorically, “Why are there no investors in Nigerian football? Why do we see our best players on a yearly basis going outside? It’s because we don’t pay enough; that’s what I keep telling people.
If they give you an offer in Benin Republic that they will pay you N3m a month, I am sure you will carry your bag and go there.”
He concluded with a charge to everyone connected to the Nigerian league to join hands together in making the standards better, in order to attract investors into the system and make it lucrative for everyone concerned with the progress of Nigerian football.
“Why are our best players leaving every year? This is because there is not enough money in the league itself. It’s a matter of chicken and the egg … which one comes first?
The investor will not put money because our league is not good enough, but our league will not get better unless the investor puts money,” Soname ended figuratively.
The post Soname Blames Win At All Cost Antics By Clubs For Absence Of Investors In Nigerian League appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.