By George Aluo
The Nigerian Professional Football League received a big boost on Tuesday courtesy of a new deal signed by the league’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) in Lagos.
The five million dollar deal which was unveiled in the Corporate Headquarters of GTI…IMC’s strategic partners, would see Propel Sports Africa stream NPFL games live when the new season gets underway in August.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Director of Propel Sports, Basil Kabbani, explained that the deal will see the company commence the streaming of NPFL matches on a dedicated platform which will be known as ‘NPFL Live’ with effect from 2023/2024 season noting that the project has been enabled by the world’s most advanced Al Technology and that the NPFL will be the first African Football League to deploy the technology.
According to him, the Prime systems utilize advanced Al algorithms and automated cameras to deliver an immersive viewing experience in broadcast quality positing that the system captures every moment of the game, ensuring that no action is missed.
In addition to the expanded game coverage, GTI and Propel Sports will also provide the NPFL with an over-The- Top platform “NPFL Live'”.
With this dedicated app fans are allowed to enjoy live matches and exclusive content anytime and anywhere while the OTT solution will be customized to reflect the NPFL branding and provide a seamless user experience for football enthusiasts here in Nigeria and throughout the world.
He however appealed to Nigerians to help the partnership work as it will benefit both footballers, club sides, players and fans.
“Nigeria is a country with more than 200 million people and many of the populace are passionate about football. We have traveled to some cities in Nigeria and are hopeful that the partnership will work as it will benefit many and we appeal to Nigerians to support it to work,” he stressed.
In his remarks Group Managing Director of GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited, Abubakar Lawal expressed happiness that the company’s partnership with the LMC is yielding the desired result even as he promised that his company is out to help Nigerian football grow and compete favourably with other leagues in the world.
Executive Director of GTI, Nelson Ine described the deal as the game changer that will herald the transformation of the Nigerian Football economy which the public and the respective stakeholders have been waiting for noting that with this innovative approach, the NPFL will elevate it’s coverage to new heights and get national and international exposure to the local talents playing in the league
Also speaking, Chairman of LMC, Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed hope that the deal will usher new beginning in Nigerian football just as he commended GTI for what it is doing to change the face of professional football in the country.
He stated that his dream is to see the lowest paid player in the Nigerian League going home with at least N1 million which he hope will make the league attractive to players from other African countries.
On how they’ve been able to achieve some successes since coming on board, he announced that with the financial backing from GTI, referees are now paid their allowances a day before the match and that clubs no longer take care of referees accommodation and transportation which has brought some sanity into the league.