By Michael Obasi
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has never been a man of plenty words , even from his time as board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, but has always love his work to speak for him.
His leadership style and prowess is exemplary and very unique compare to what we see from other administrators these days.
The way he has handled some of the issues in the corridors of Nigeria football since his election last year is simply the reason why there is relative peace and enabling environment in the Country’s football as compare to previous administration.
Amongst many others, one issue that would have naturally heat up the football ecosystem is the drama surrounding the Nigeria League.
When Gusau came into office there were issues on the stability and legitimacy of the leadership of the league couple with the lingering crises of funding for the league.
But he ensured all those issues were maturely resolved and handled without unnecessarily media grandstanding and today the Nigeria Premier Football League can boast of stable board and now a record breaking Broadcast deal with Startimes.
As easy looking as it may sound right now , the backend serious battle to arrive at this new deal could only be achieved by a quality leader.
In the past in Nigerian football , we have seen how issues of Broadcast right and Sponsorship tore the Football House apart.
Even this time around when there were boiling issues between the club owners and the leadership of the league on the broadcast deal , all parties finally resolved the matter to arrive at the Startimes Deal without unnecessary ego in the Media.
GUSAU has repeatedly said his objective is to make Nigeria football move forward from all the leagues to the various National teams.
The new Startimes broadcast deal is a huge one and a step in the right direction and a big signal to other sponsors that the Nigeria Football brand is still very viable with huge potentials.
With the New Startimes contract, Nigerians can now watch their talent domestic football stars week in week out on Televisions with multiple matches to be shown every weekend.
Gusau understands the importance of getting it right from the League because once that is in place it will twinkle down to the quality of Nigerian players in the national teams.
What the NFF boss represents is similar to that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with less Media attention of self and this has always being their style prior to their current emergence.
President Tinubu did not concentrate on Media appearances like other candidates but focus on behind the scene strategic plannings to win his election and he did.
Similarly Gusau never believed in Media showboating even when all other candidates were always seen in the Media but convincingly blew everybody away during the Election in Benin to succeed Amaju Pinnick as NFF President.
And today, Nigeria Football league is gradually heading towards the right direction under his leadership.
Michael Obasi, is a Sports Affairs Analyst
