The six Lagos-based NNL teams on Monday kicked against the circular letter sent to them by Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) that no live streaming, no video coverage and no branding at the match venue ahead of the Nigeria National League NNL 2023,24 season.
Speaking with the technical committee of Lagos State Football Association, the vice chairman of Ikorodu City Football Club, Sanmi Doherty said the circular letter sent to him and other NNL teams is dangerous to football development in the state and urged the Lagos FA board led by Ogboni Fouad Oki to rescind its decision.
“When I read the circular, I was shocked because I could not imagine that FA would say no live streaming, no video coverage and no branding in our home match. They also asked us to pay more than N500,000 for home match logistics. Where can we get the money? We are not making a profit from this rather we are helping the young players who are gifted to exhibit their talents. For us to execute all our home matches, the club would be spending over million naira. This is ridiculous.
“I am using this forum to call on our Lagos FA Chairman, Ogboni Fouad Oki to look into our plights and review the home match logistics and other issues that were raised before the kick-off of the league.We need the support of Lagos FA at this moment unfortunately what is happening now is a big tragedy for football in the state,” he said.
Manager of Tradesafe FC, Saheed Sodiya lamented the home match logistics being demanded by Lagos FA saying that his club has no financial muscle to meet the FA demands.
“I kick against no live streaming and no branding in our home match. If we want to market our players, how can we market them to the world?It is through this live streaming.I think the Lagos FA should review the circular letter because Tradesafe is a newly NNL-promoted club in the state and we need the support of Lagos FA not adding financial burden on us,” he said.
Alhaji Kamal Olawoye representing Smart City expressed his displeasure over the Lagos FA decision saying that no NNL team would survive the decision taken by the state football ruling body.
Other NNL teams also kicked against the circular and urged the FA to consider the challenges facing the clubs in the state.
Responding, Vice Chairman of Lagos State Football Association LSFA, Liameed Olawale Gafar admonished the clubs to exercise patience and promised that the circular would be reviewed in due course.
