…Says Impact in NPFL Visible
By Sunday Agunbiade
One of the high flying Nigerian born Russia based FIFA Agents, Patrick Osaweme has applauded the efforts of Gbenga Elegbeleye-led Board of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for changing the face of Nigerian league
Osaweme ,who is an indigene of Edo state but born and bread in Ibadan described the former Director-General of National Sports Commission as a priceless asset who has done crefitably well in taking the country’s top football league at par with international standards. He noted that his uncommon strides has endeared Nigerians living in abroad to be closely monitoring the league.
Appreciating the League helmsman, Osawene said:
“Gone are the days when hooliganism , board room points, Referee Shenanigans and empty stadium scenarios characterized Nigerian league but since he assumed Office, things have changed. He is leaving no stone unturned in changing the face of Nigerian football”.
A member of the leading WhatsApp group in Nigeria, *Sports World Platform* who based in Russia stated this while reacting on what he felt about the Ondo state born Football administrator and how the critical stakeholders living in diaspora perceive the Nigerian league, Osaweme enumerated various strides made by the graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University stressing that his records will be difficult for anyone to beat considering the shortest time he assumed office.
“I must state here that Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye is an invaluable asset to Nigerian Football. He has improved the image of the league by ensuring a win at home syndrome becomes a thing of the past. He has streamlined the football calendar from August to May which is at par with global best practices. He has also insisted that the league will resume in August 31st with Rangers hosting Elkanemi Warriors at Cathedral, something that others found it difficult to achieve”
“To be sincere, I think within the last two seasons, Honourable Elegbeleye has changed the narrative of the Nigeria Professional Football League for good as win at home syndrome is gradually becoming a thin of the past .Book makers have lost great deal of predictions on this old football fashion as any team can win or lose anywhere. We are very much excited to watch good football from our base in Europe with spectators filling the stadium. Any team can now win anywhere depending on how good your team is. I think Elegbeleye and his team deserve commendation,” FIFA agent enthusiastically lauded
The Russia based football intermediary who has broken good number of deals said they are feeling the impact of the soft spoken administrator and he urged the stakeholders to continue to support the league boss so as to deliver the mandate of the NPFL beyond rhetorics in years to come
“The league Chairman is doing everything within his capacity to stabilise the system in line with global best practice and this alone is a plus to Nigerian Football. Elegbeleye is doing a good job, sanitizing the system. Some erring referees knew what they faced last season while big clubs lost many matches in their own yards. Many sponsors have returned to the league and invest in Nigerian Football due to the confidence they have in the erudite Boss. League winners now go home with immediate cash rewards of #150M while creation of Youth League with a winner going home with #40M for the first time in Nigeria unlike the usual audio reward while security apparatus at match venues have been maximally improved.
“These and many good initiatives evolved by Elegbeleye led board attracted GTI to be paying Referees Indemnities with no payments hiatus. Cleansing our league by punishing corrupt referees is already a gain for the unemployed youths directly or indirectly said Patrick Osaweme.
