NPFL: Anaezemba Wants League Matches Back On TV (AUDIO)

Abia Warriors midfielder Nzube Anaezemba says he will be very delighted if the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will return to Television next season.

A truncated TV right deal with SuperSport in 2017 and an unsuccessful partnership with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in 2018 meant the NPFL has been away from the television screens for two seasons and counting.

However, there is a ray of hope in the offing with the new Redstrike partnership the League Management Company (LMC) signed with the UK-based outfit, which is expected to offer fans the opportunity to stream live NPFL matches from next season and also produce these matches for potential TV right owners to broadcast.

According to the 27-year-old former Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars midfield maestro, having league matches back on television will improve the standard of officiating in the NPFL.

“What I expect the LMC to do is, I want to flash back to the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, then, our games used to be televised, I mean shown on DSTV, which DSTV used to come and cover the matches,” the former Rivers United player noted.

“And I believe if they can have such again in this country, our football will be very, very okay, because then, officiating was very free and fair.

“So, I believe if they can bring back Television in the league, everything will be okay.”

The importance of Television in any league cannot be over-emphasized, with LMC chairman Shehu Dikko recently describing TV as ‘the game-changer’.

Aside from generating huge revenue, Television also takes football beyond the region where it is played, thereby creating more visibility.