Olopade changes the narratives

Walking into the hall, what struck me was the venue's look and setting, which reminded me of what one witnesses during such events in Europe. Though it wasn't as elaborate with some of the players of the four domestic teams (Ranchers Bees, Doma FC, Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos) brought in to pick the draws. With the promotion of Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), alongside Ikorodu City, Lagos now boasts three clubs in the country’s top flight — a development that signals a return to an era when the city dominated the domestic game.

The resurgence echoes the early 1990s, particularly 1993, when Lagos was home to four of the 16 clubs in the professional league — including the iconic Stationery Stores, Julius Berger, ACB, and VIP. During that period, the city was widely regarded as the epicentre of Nigerian football culture, talent and competition.

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The organiser's decision to use Daniel Amokachi and Victor Ikpeba to pick the draw was spectacular, especially when providence played its hands of favour. Amokachi's soccer was made popular by playing for Ranchers Bees and he picked the playoff slot that had Ranchers Bees written on it. What could have been better? You tell me, dear reader.

It showed clearly that the organisers were thinking. The ambience inside the hall provided the kind of setting good to celebrate the sponsors on the domestic in these austere times. But one man, Bukola Olopade stood tall when I probed further for the sensible thought of recognising the NNL sponsors who were both male and female.

Olopade, it was stated, gave them latitude to do what was proper for the game to be self-sufficient in order to pay its bill. Indeed, Olopade's freedom to the administrators who wanted to think outside the box had check and balance mechanisms to check abuses and guard against incidents of corruption. He wasn't shy to wield the big stick just as he had the penchant for leading by example. Surprised? Don't be; having come out of eight years of Ogun State's officialdom in the age long administrative tardiness in governance to join the private sector to eke out a living in business, Olodape knew where the pitfalls in government existed and tackled them with his full chest.

The stoutly built administrator's seeming opening doors also could accommodate brutal whips for defaulters, with many describing him as autocratic. Such nuances against leaders come from those who like to cut corners. They also are experts in explaining failure. The reason brute leaders whip them back on the line or shut the doors against them.

Back to the ceremony where the speeches talked about the achievement of the NNL board. They have been celebrating the fact that the four promoted sides are owned by individuals, not government. It is however, important to remind them that the burden for promoted sides globally is their willingness to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season. Promoted teams without character would go back the way they came. Those expecting government to hands off domestic league teams need to be told that is the biggest platform where the private concerns earn good money from the governors, who are the biggest contractors. In fact, it takes the grace of God for the government owned teams to survive if the governor isn't a sports lover albeit a football freak. These governors are quick to tell you that during their campaigns, they didn't promise the voters anything on sports. Rather, they made promises on health, education, security, repair of roads and the construction of roads e.t.c. And that these are their priorities.

One would have been excited if the NNL board members told us how many of these clubs in their leagues are quoted in the Stock Exchange.  That way we would have been able to know how much each club is worth and how much the NNL itself is worth. Need I waste space listing the worth of teams in the English Championship and even the lower ones such as League 1 are worth? NNL board members should have told us the measures being taken to ensure that their players sign lucrative and binding contracts with the clubs, which can be challenged at the law courts whenever there are cases of infringements.

One would have been excited if one was served with a brochure which contained everything they have achieved in naira and kobo, especially the welfare schemes for the players, coaches and club ancillary staff? If the NNL board had produced such a document, it would have been the best template for the clubs to also emulate what the NNL has done in opening up its books for public scrutiny. Nothing exists in a vacuum, otherwise what is it that prospective offer willing sponsors about their liquidity in business and what are such ventures? Shareholders of business concerns aren't Father Christmas. The private sector isn't a bazaar either.

Indeed, NNL and others should cultivate the habit of building institutions, not individuals. This idea where influential clubs run to NNL officials to report issues makes a mockery of the doctrines of fairness and providing a level playing field for healthy competition during matches.

However, thumbs up to the NNL board members and people in the NNL. Please, you can do better. See you next year.