Football club in Nigeria over the years have witnessed a very poor, retarded and retrospective growth; hence the urgent need for its revitalisation.
It is longer news that football is the most popular sport in Nigeria. And over the years, Nigeria has been able to assemble, and produce powerful teams that comprise of talented grassroot footballers. And this teams will compete and win titles at world football’s biggest stages.
The first big experience in Nigeria football can be traced back to 1980, when the senior men’s national team won it’s first Africa cup of Nations title.
Away from the 1980 cup of nations title , Nigeria also assembled a formidable team that won the 1994 African cup of nation title again. Also that same year, the super eagles qualified for the FIFA world cup; reaching to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by a star-studded Italian team.
FOOTBALL STARS FROM NIGERIA
And since then, a lot of world class players have come out of Nigeria. Some of which includes but not limited to the following: Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo kanu, Joseph Yobo Rashidi Yekini, Vincent Enyeama, victor osimhen, Daniel Amokachi etc.
And to show how football has transformed in Nigeria since they started participating in known tournament; teams from Nigeria has won age-grade tournament. For example, the Nigeria U-17 team(Golden Eagles) have won the in inaugural fifa U-17 world cup in 1985.
And to crown it, the Golden Eaglets holds the record of most title at the fifa U-17 world cups. Because they have won it five times (1985,1993, 2007,2013, and 2015).
Also, the Flying Eagles have made a tremendous and enviable impact in world of football. And of course not forgetting the impact of the female category.
The Super falcons(Nigeria’s women’s national teams ) is the most successful women’s team in Africa. And have gone ahead to win the WAFCON eleven times. Hence, holding the record of winning most titles.
But then, what has happened to football clubs in Nigeria? In as much as Nigeria’s national teams are doing great,there has been a heart-breaking decline in club football in the country. And this, has made a lot of football clubs in Nigeria cash-strapped; having little or nothing to which they would run and maintain the football club.
It is important we talk about how to improve earnings of football clubs in Nigeria; but, lets first talk about the problems of football clubs.
PROBLEMS OF FOOTBALL CLUBS IN NIGERIA
According to research, it was discovered and compiled the 3 major problems facing Nigerian clubs as :
 (I) Lack of funds
(ii) lack of facility (Good facility)
(iii)Insecurity andwelfare of players.
(iv) Inagequate publicity.
LACK OF FUNDS
Most football clubs battle with the issue of fundings which is usually orchestrated by lack of investment from investors. Because the local league, Nigeria premier football league (NPFL) is poorly run, investors seldom invest in club. Most clubs in Nigeria are funded by Gorvenment(mostly States).
And it is usually a herculean task to get funds from Government. Most times, corrupt government official, embezzle funds meant for running a government owned enterprise.
And this issue of lack funds, has led most clubs into owing contracted players. Sometimes, player in the NPFL are owed a backlog of seven months salaries.
Just few weeks ago, NPFL champions Enyimba FC, boycotted training for being owed for about four months . Cash-strapped clubs almost on annual basis, sell off the promotion slot to the NPFL to a more lucrative football club. And all these are in a bid of raising funds.
LACK OF STANDARD FACILITIES
Most club in Nigerians lacks good world standard facilities. They lack good gyms, pitches and rehab facilities ( for injured players). Some clubs in Nigeria, play matches on dilapidated turfs , making it very difficult for match officials to discharge their duties. And also for fans to go to stadiums and watch games; imaging watching games under a leaky roof during rainy-season.
Few months ago, Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegates visited Nigeria for accreditation. And sadly, only one stadium(Godswill Akpabio stadium), out of the many in the country met it’s standard. And that shorts how bad pitches /facilities in Nigeria have become over the years.
INSECURITY AND POOR WELFARE OF PLAYERS
The incessant killings and kidnapping of citizens by herdsmen, and kidnappers has limited the free –flow of fans to stadiums. Hence most NPFL matches witness empty stadium.
Also the recent sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra has affected football activities in the region. Fans and sport loving citizens, for fear of being maimed usually stay at homes to enjoy games.
And this has led to players in the country playing in an almost empty stadium. No gate-takings for home clubs, revenue generation is poor, leaving the players to being demoralized.
Pitch invasion of fans is also a factor. Some years ago, a NPFL fixture between Kano Pillars and Dakkada FC saw fans invade the stadium maim match officials; and visiting players. And this has given room to the general assumptions that ‘host clubs mostly win their games.’
On the issue of welfare of players, most clubs in Nigeria has no insurance policy covering the players. In recent years, good grassroots players in Nigeria move to obscure and mushroom clubs in Europe in search of good and adequate salaries.
Most times, injured NPFL players are allowed to carter for themselves. Treatment is solely a player’s responsibility. Such actions by clubs do not bring out the best in players as they are always careful about getting injury. And of course, the needed maximum output is not yielded.
The welfare of injured players is every club’s responsibility if truly they want the player’s best whenever he is on the pitch of play.
INADEQUATE PUBLICITY
Over the years Nigerian club matches do not air live on television, or any other live streaming platforms. Most media companies seldom go to matches; some for fear of insecurity, and others for high cost of transportation and other logistics.
Fans who do not go to stadiums to see games live has no other chance of watching live. So they rely on live football updating sites for results.
Also lack of availability of NPFL clubs items is a big factor. Fans find it a herculean task to source for, and get their favourite club jerseys and other gadgets.
HOW TO GROW YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM IN NIGERIA
1. Attraction of investors:
To pump money into the league/club. This can be achieved by rearrangement of the league by organizers to make it more marketable.. Also, this can be realized through the help of government; who has the right to include funding sports project as part of its deal when negotiating with foreign investors.
2. Rehabilitation of dilapidated facilities:
Reconstruction of worn out parts of stadiums can help attract not only fans to a club; but also attract investors to a club. A good hospital, clinic, or rehab centers should be put in place in case of in jury to players.
3. Provision of adequate security:
This will ensure the safety of players and fans, lives and properties of club. And when this is achieved, fans can muster the courage of going to stadium to see games and enjoy themselves. Football club matches in Nigeria will be great again of adequate security can be made available on match days.
