By Andrew Abah, ABUJA
The Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One (NLO), Shola Ogunnowo, has expressed his desire to put the necessary machinery in place to see the Nation’s third tier league rated one of the best in the world.
Ogunnowo who spoke to Prompt News Online, said the third tier league is considered as one of the fastest growing grassroot league in Africa, adding that there is need for the country’s football governing body to pay more attention to the lower league.
He said the Nationwide League One has the best marketing value due to its large number of clubs and followership nationwide.
“Nationwide League One has the potential to become one of the best in the world and fans friendly league. We plan to get more sponsors soon and get things done the way it should.
“To be compared as one of the best means a lot of hard work and I can tell you that we are clearly moving towards that direction to achieve the best for the third tier league. It is my desire to make the NLO more attractive than Nigeria National League and Nigeria Professional Football League.
“Honestly, I want to leave a legacy of a very sound league that is going to have a strong footing in terms of being financially buoyant, accepted and seen all over the world, ” Ogunnowo told Promp News.
“My prayer is that in the next two years, we will make NLO more attractive than other leagues in the country before quitting the stage as chief Operating Officer of the third tier league.
“We have mapped out programmes to be executed this year which will attract sponsors from the communication industries including construction companies but no thanks to COVID -19 Pandemic which has crippled all social-economic activities in the world. I still believe that things will get better very soon to enable the country return to normal.
The former U23 team Secretary further said the NLO could not start the league because of certain logistics not in place but now ready if given the nod to commence the league by the Nigeria Football Federation.
