Emmanuel Ifeanyi, 
It is a new dawn for the economic development of Abia State as the state government looks to Enyimba International Stadium Aba and Umuahia Township Stadium that over the years have record of zero Return on Investment (ROI) as new channels through which the state can shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
With a projected cumulative value of over N7 billion if properly harnessed, the introduction of the soon to commence Abia State Supalig has been marked as having the potential to contribute massively to the state’s IGR drive through an organised football league.
With a very high level of unemployment and further fear of a rise in unemployment, every state in Nigeria is trying to create a viable means of escaping the dangers of unemployment by leveraging on areas it has comparative advantage.
To end this, the Abia State government has resolved to upscale the number of activities that are hosted by the Enyimba International Stadium and the Umuahia Township Stadium in order to tap deeply into the huge sporting potential of the state.
PPP
To make this projection possible, the Abia State Ministry of Sports has entered into Public Private Partnership with Fifty 1 Alliance, a sports and entertainment asset management outfit to establish the Abia State Supalig, Nigeria’s first state-wide football league.
Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba noted that outside football, the state government had collaborated with Fifty 1 Alliance to successfully develop Table Tennis and Basketball leagues, as well as a Boxing Tournament in the state.
Ananaba said that to ensure the smooth running of the Supalig, an 8-member League Management Committee (LMC), comprising the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, as Chairman.
According to him, the membership will be drawn from Fifty 1 Alliance, Private Football Club Owners and experienced sports and football administrators. Ananaba further disclosed, “The Supalig will comprise one division only, called the Superlig, and there will be no promotion or relegation to enhance the value of the clubs as an asset to its owners with potential upside resale value.
“The Supalig will have nine teams, three teams from each of the three Senatorial zones of the state, with 72 matches to be played across the three zones.
“The Supalig will have prize money in the region of N20 million and N25 million to be shared by the clubs according to their finishing positions, at the end of the season. Subject to other revenues, there is scope for an increase in the value of the prize pot.”
Benefits
The Commissioner said that the organisation of the Supalig, which will be done at no cost to the state government, will help the state in reducing youth unemployment through engagements in football, football business and media productions.
Ananaba stated that other benefits include an increase in IGR for the state, a balance development for the state, with the capacity to raise the GDP to at least 5% in the short term and maintenance of the state’s sporting assets.
He stressed that the Supalig will maximise the utilisation of existing sporting facilities, such as the two stadia and the proposed airport and new stadium in the state.
Revenue profile
Dike Dimiri, CEO of Fifty1 Alliance, said that Supalig is part of a wider plan to maximise the two stadia and other sporting facilities in the state for the twin purposes of harnessing the abundant talents in the state and shoring up the revenue profile of the government.
According to him, “The value of Enyimba International Stadium is about N4.7 billion. That of Abia Warriors Stadium is over N2.5 billion. That is a huge investment.
But you discover that with the stadium mainly being used during home league matches involving Enyimba and Abia Warriors Football clubs, the two huge facilities are only being used for 19 days out of 365 days in a year. “That is not good for the socioeconomic development of the state.
With the Supalig to be played at the two stadiums, we will be increasing activities and also increasing the revenue profile of the state. “The Supalig will also serve the purpose of discovering and marketing talents, which will be equally a win-win situation for all stakeholders.
“It is in tandem with the policy trust of the amiable Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti’s administration to create an enabling environment for our talented youths to express their sporting and entertainment talents for reward.”
Transformation
The Association of Private Football Club Owners of Aba has said that it will leverage the Abia Supalig to transform the fortunes of the state in the area of sports employment and export talents to the global community.
The Private Football Club Owners described the introduction of the Abia State Supalig as the missing piece of decades of puzzle of trying to use domestic football to create a thriving economy, expressing optimism that the birth of a new business-oriented football era on the domestic front is already on the horizon in Aba.
Ambassador Ukoha Udensi, President of the Association of Private Football Club Owners in Aba said that the Abia Supalig is bringing the business in football that the current environment is not used to and an opportunity to make Aba the biggest football factory in Nigeria.
“We’re not talking about mere grassroots football. We’ve seen and have heard about the marketing and business sides that should be involved in what we’re doing. It’s a massive shift from the usual thing we’re used to which has not been too profitable. I’m seeing something that will boost the economy of this state and we’re in.”
Professionalism
Honourable Chijioke Kalu Ukpai, Vice President of Private Football Club Owners of Aba said that the idea of a Supalig and the structure already in place is something he cannot wait to get started.
He stressed that the football management in the country has done a whole lot of disservice to too many talents emerging from the domestic front, as they have not been given an organised opportunity to feel what professionalism in the game looks like.
Ukpai said that with over 50 private football clubs in the state, with each having players who are hungry for opportunities, the Abia Supalig is not just an exciting prospect, but a total liberation for talents who are yearning for a chance to make something out of football. This is as he disclosed, “We’ve not seen such before in our state.
We were expecting such moves from the state government, but we thank God that today private football club owners in Aba will begin to see a spectacular change in the football landscape of this city.
“It’s a massive paradigm shift from what we’re used to. The Supalig will be a wonderful introduction. We have a whole lot of serious clubs that are redundant, good players that are unknown with zero opportunity to expose themselves to the world.
“Today, we’re seeing a move that will enable our players outside the NPFL to have an opportunity to begin to sign contracts, play professionally and get seen by people in faraway countries through the opportunity for broadcast in whichever technological space available for it.
“So, this will be a form of rehabilitation for private football clubs in Aba and it’s a welcome development. We have one of the biggest factories for football talents here in Aba and what’s remaining is the chance to market products from those factories and Abia Supalig is the biggest chance on the horizon to do that for us.”
Appreciation
Ukpai then expressed appreciation to Otti and the state Commissioner for Sports, Ananaba, for the wonderful idea to partner with Fifrty-1 Alliance to create a sporting business atmosphere in Abia, which he says will go far to help youths in the state, especially in the area of unemployment.
While Mr Chinedu Kalu Ukpai, a club owner and a grassroots football coach, said that the Abia Supalig is an innovation in the football world of the state and an opportunity to create something that will forever change the mentality of everyone involved in football in Nigeria.
“A long time ago in Abia State, people got tired of football because of the way things are done wrongly. We saw sponsors of football competitions showing signs of tiredness because the business angle was not properly handled. Everything was done haphazardly with zero care for anything,’’ he noted.
Adding, “Today, we’re seeing a different mentality that I think should saturate the domestic football atmosphere. I’m seeing a move that can rekindle the burning desire for football. With proper planning and presentation of quality and well-packaged football, we can create something marketable beyond here. “It’s an opportunity to have a professional league at the lower level.
Seeing our domestic footballers playing in Enyimba Stadium and Umuahia Township Stadium, having their names on jerseys, and seeing fans talking about them online with their pictures and videos circulating and going viral will be a dream come through for us. “Having a well-organized league with serious management will bring sponsors and this is what we’ve been craving. We’re ready and excited about what’s coming. It’s time to see football beyond entertainment and sporting activity. It’s time for business and we’re ready for the change.”
