‘Real Stakeholders’ Elegbeleye, Soname, Amokachi To Get NPFL Off ‘Death Bed’
“Real Stakeholders” who have committed their money, time and expertise in the promotion of football in Nigeria like Gbenga Elegbeleye, Kunle Soname and former Super Eagles star Daniel Amokachi have now been saddled with the onerous task of reviving an NPFL that is on its “death bed”.
Former law maker Elegbeleye was former DG of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and has stakes in NNL side City FC of Abuja as well as the betting company BetKing, while Chairman of Bet9ja Soname owns NPFL side Remo Stars, has shares in the Portuguese club Feirense as well as invested heavily in the development of the sport.
Amokachi featured at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups as well as won the historic 1996 Olympics Gold and 1994 AFCON.
He has played in the Premier League as well as in Belgium, USA and Turkey.
Other members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) are Akwa United Chairman Paul Bassey, Davidson Owumi, Chairman NPFL Club Owners Danladi Isaac, England-based sports journalist Calvin Emeka Onwuka and Aliyu Adamu.
“These are people with pedigree, who have put their money where their mouth is,” remarked journalist Norbert Okolie.
“They will reclaim the lost glory of the NPFL.”
The Sports Ministry announced that the 10-man IMC was appointed in place of the disbanded LMC and it is in line with the 10-year Football Master Plan as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The IMC will now oversee the NPFL until a proper professional League Board is put in place statutorily.
Members of the IMC are as follows –
1. Gbenga Elegbeleye – Chairman
2. Paul Bassey – Vice Chairman
3. Davidson Owumi – Head of Operations
4. Kunle Soname
5.Daniel Amokachi
6. Calvin Emeka Onwuka
7. Aliyu Adamu
8.Rep of the NFF.
9. Rep of the Nigeria Police Force
10. Barrister Danladi Isaac
11.Olumide Bamiduro. Secretary
