The Nigeria Premier Football League finally kicked off over the weekend, and trust our league, it wasted no time serving us drama. We had two away wins, a coach who briefly lost his bearings, and massive turnouts up north.
This is our Nigerian league: full of energy, full of potential, but sadly run by people who don’t seem to realise the goldmine they’re sitting on.
Where was the fanfare?
A Quiet Kickoff
When Remo Stars hosted Rivers United in Friday’s curtain raiser, you’d expect fireworks, media buzz, maybe even a parade. After all, this was first versus second from last season. Instead, it slipped in quietly, like a neighbour frying akara at 6 a.m. You know it’s happening, but nobody announced it.
To be fair, the match itself was a proper showpiece. But the buildup? Non-existent. Neither the league organisers nor most of the clubs seem to understand branding or visibility. In fact, I sometimes wonder if some clubs even know they have a brand.
And that’s where our football keeps failing.
Another World Exists
While we worry about poor attendance, there’s another Nigeria, a football world where fans don’t need hashtags, pre-match videos, or halftime DJs to show up. They just love their football. Full stop.
Look north.
In Kano, Barau FC (yes, Barau FC. Don’t worry, I had to Google them too) hosted Enyimba at the Sani Abacha Stadium, and every seat was taken.
In Bauchi, Wikki Tourists against Plateau United was also a packed affair.
Compare this with much of southern Nigeria. Except for Shooting Stars, Rangers, and maybe Bendel Insurance, most clubs struggle to attract fans. People either don’t care anymore, or the clubs have done little to convince them otherwise.
Take Port Harcourt as an example: the stadium is tucked so far from the city centre that making the trip feels like a pilgrimage. Add the fact that beyond players’ families, referees, ultras, supporters’ clubs, police, FA officials, and journalists (none of whom pay), you’ll be lucky to count more than 25 paying fans. And I kid you not.
So here’s the real question: have our southern clubs bothered to find out what their northern counterparts are doing right? Because blaming the EPL every time doesn’t cut it. Northerners watch European football too, and maybe more than us down south, yet they still troop out to support their local sides. Something is working there.
When a Coach Suffers Temporary Insanity
Shooting Stars came into the season buzzing. New General Manager. New coach. And the headline signing, a Sporting Director, Tobi Adepoju. Funny thing? Not too long ago, Shooting Stars fans nearly lynched the same Tobi because he criticised the club. To them, he was a traitor, a snake. The way Liverpool fans once treated Coutinho… or Trent.
Anyway, Tobi got to work, rebranding the club and pushing them into the spotlight. Fans were hyped. Hopes were high. But then reality checked in. On Match Day 1, they lost at home to Bayelsa United.
At the post-match presser, Coach Nurudeen Aworero gave us this gem:
“It’s the game. The game. Sometimes, you can’t ehh, die hard to the result because ehh, it has come like that. You need to accept it. I know we made the mistake.”
I’ll be honest, I’m still trying to decode that. Maybe the coach was speaking in parables. Or maybe the loss scrambled his grammar. Either way, it’s vintage NPFL entertainment.
The League Is Back
So yes, the league is back. Thirty-seven more matchdays lie ahead, filled with drama, good football, poor pitches, and, once in a while, aggressive fans. The question is: can we do better?
Can clubs bring more fans to stadiums?
Can they engage supporters on social media?
Can we get more live broadcasts or behind-the-scenes content?
Because at the end of the day, the NPFL can be more than just a league. It can be a movement. But the responsibility lies at the feet of the clubs.
The ball is literally in their court. Or should I say… at their feet. ⚽
Bon appétit.
