The chairman of Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCTFA), Adam Mouktar Mohammed has joined the growing rave of commendations trailing the promotion of four private-owned clubs to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Sports247 reports that, while noting that another private club, Remo Stars of Ikenne, won the NPFL title last season, Mohammed praised the recently promoted clubs for maintaining the new trend in Nigeria’s top flight.
Read Also: “We Are Using History to Create History” — Lagos FA Chairman, Gafar Liameed Speaks at Ex-International Tournament Draw
He noted further that the NPFL now stands to have eight private clubs in the coming season, which the FCT football buff described as a major boost for enhanced development of the game in Nigeria.
He stated further during a parley with sports journalists in Abuja, that the example provided in Lagos State made it conducive for private-owned clubs to flourish, hence the reality that three of their teams will now compete next season in the NPFL.
“I am impressed with what is happening in Lagos State and the NPFL. Last season, a privately owned club, Remo Stars, won the league. Now, Inter Lagos, Sporting Lagos, Ranchers Bees and Doma United are joining the NPFL.
“This will increase the number of privately owned clubs in the top flight to eight; an unprecedented achievement in the history of Nigerian football,” Mohammed eulogised.
While using FCT as a case study, Mohammed also spoke about the values of investments by individuals and corporate bodies in football development, especially football academies, since government-owned clubs often face administrative limitations.
“We want more private investors in the FCT, because government-owned clubs can only do so much. With numerous responsibilities they carry, it becomes difficult to consistently compete with well-funded and professionally managed teams.
“Private investment is critical if Abuja is to realize its ambition of producing a strong NPFL side once again. We have laid the foundation by creating the right environment, which is why we are witnessing an upsurge in properly structured academies.
“What we need now is for investors to come in, support these initiatives and help take football development in the FCT up to the next level,” Mohammed solicited.
Sports247 reports that four promoted clubs from the second-tier Nigeria National League (NNL) will join Ikorodu City of Lagos, FC Barau of Kano, Kun Khalifa of Owerri and Remo Stars of Ikenne in swelling the number of NPFL’s private-owned clubs.
, Adam Mouktar Mohammed has joined the growing rave of commendations trailing the promotion of four private-owned clubs to the NPFL){kind=link}