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By; Ayo Ojedokun, Lagos. A United Kingdom based Sports Entertainment company,Aurola Limited in collaboration with its Nigerian partners, Arabella 21st Century Limited have concluded arrangement to invest about 1.5 billion dollars in the next 20 years in Nigerian football aimed at revolutionizing the country;s league. Disclosing this to the media, Chief Executive Officer of Arabella,Otumba Femi Carena stated that the plan when implemented will see premier league clubs in the country run professionally with little or no government funding as is the case in Europe. According to him, the investors had already received guarantees from the Federal Government through the Minister of Youth and Sports and an MoU signed as part of the initial arrangement. He explained that the whole idea was to discourage government from putting money in football and make Nigerian football move forward even as he assured that both the NFF and LMC will benefit immensely from the deal. Carena,announced that as part of preparations for the take off the scheme,an international Football conference will be held in the country from 8-9 March,2017 to be addressed by officials of English Premier League,NBA and Nigerian Stock Exchange’; saying that World football legend,Pele has accepted to attend the seminar. Representatives of the investors,Babatunde Aina noted that they are not coming to change the league but to make it move forward positing that they became interested in investing in the country because Arabella developed a methodology which they believe can work. Director of the company who also doubles as President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr.Rafiu Ladipo advised Nigerians to appreciate the investors as well as explore the opportunity for the development of the country’s football. |
