LMC fetes stars, promises innovations for NPFL

It was termed a night of stars and they were all there: the gladiators, who made the 2014/2015 season one of the best since the country started playing professional league football were there in their numbers to add spice to a night of music, comedy and dance organised by the League Management Company (LMC), the body that manages the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The invitation sent by the LMC simply said the event was an ‘end of the year gathering’ where the gladiators of the outgoing season would be feted by the managers of the league.
But it turned out to be more than that.

Although the players were duly recognised and praised for their efforts, other members of the audience, including journalists, company executives and football enthusiasts had more fun than they bargained for, with the irrepressible duo of Still Ringing blowing the audience away with their rib-cracking-jokes.

There were also jokes by ATM, who co-anchored the event with LMC’s Harry Iwuala, as well as music from some budding artistes all lined up to thrill the audience.

Some of the stars at the event were the 2014/2015 highest goal scorer, Gbolahan Salami, new Super Eagles’ stars, Chima Akas, Austin Oboroakpo and Paul Onobi, as well as Victor Ezeji, who has the record of scoring every single season of his 20-year stay in the league.

Speaking at the event, LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, said the party was aimed at celebrating the stars that have worked hard to change the face of the league.

He said: “When were set up, we were mandated to take our football tom another level. And all over the world, the new vision is what is called sportainment, which is a fusion of sports with entertainment.

“We want to have a marriage of football and entertainment and I am glad that our sponsors here are happy with what we are doing. Above all, we want to celebrate our stars, who made the season attractive to our sponsors.”

Dikko praised the players for ensuring that attention has reverted to the domestic league, adding, “I am happy that at the last World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, we had five players from the local league in the team. That shows that our game has improved so much. But our vision is to have majority of the national team players coming from the local league.”

Also speaking at the event, Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, praised the LMC for the ‘good job it is doing with the league.”

He described the LMC as a big asset to the country’s football, saying, “we said we wanted to move the league from where it was to another level and they have done more than we expected. I want to congratulate them for a successful season.”