Total Promotions reclaims NPFL title sponsorship from Globacom
Total Promotions which won the bid to sponsor the elite division has decided to withdraw the title sponsorship which it ceded to Globacom because payment was not completed
After several months of logjam over the title sponsorship of the Nigeria Professional Football League (Npfl), the future of the local league remains shrouded in uncertainty as Total Promotions Limited has written to the League Management Company Limited to reclaim the title sponsorship which was conditionally ceded to Globacom recently.
In a letter dated June 14, 2013 and written by lawyers to TPL, Ayanlaja, Adesanya & Co, and directed to the Chairman of the LMC, TPL declared that Globacom and the LMC reneged on the Memorandum Of Understanding entered into on March 19, 2013 between LMC, Globacom and TPL.
TPL lawyers in the letter, a copy of which was sent to Globacom, informed that Total Promotions Limited is no longer bound by the Agreement of the 19th of March, 2013 and in particular is not bound by the provisions thereof which forbid litigation in respect of this matter by the parties. “Our client (TPL) remains the title sponsorship rights owner of the Nigerian Football Premier League (NFPL) and shall avail itself of all avenues legally open to it to assert this claim if it becomes necessary,” stated the letter.
Under the March 19 MOU, the LMC is to assume all rights, title and interest in the title sponsorship rights of the Nigerian Premier Football League upon payment of N100 million by Globacom to TPL in final settlement of TPL’s title sponsorship rights.
According to the TPL repudiation letter, “Glo has not paid the said sum of N100 million to TPL, a fact which you (LMC) are well aware of, you have publicly announced Glo as the new title sponsorship right owner and continue to advertise Glo as such in breach of the MOU.
“This, is no doubt, a gross breach of the tripartite Agreement as LMC has not and cannot assume the rights which continue to reside in our Client until the sum of N100 million is paid to our Client by Glo.
Continuing, the letter stated: “Consequently, LMC cannot transfer any rights whatsoever to Glo. The breach of Agreement which started over 70 days ago when payment was due according to the MOU is continuing.”
A staff of TPL who spoke to journalists in Lagos on Monday added that the letter has been sent to LMC since Friday last week.
U-20 World Cup Springboard for the stars of the future
Back in 1977, all the talk was of the following year’s FIFA World Cup™ in Argentina, but it was also the year which saw the inauguration of an innovative new competition which has now mushroomed into the most important global tournament in youth football: the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
What began as an experimental construct with just 28 matches has grown into a major 52-game event. The early editions attracted modest crowds of curious locals, but the tournament is now a firm fixture in the diaries of scouts and national coaches alike. The 19th FIFA U-20 World Cup is about to begin in Turkey, and will again provide a first taste of a major global stage for the stars of the future. We look back in time and pick out some of the players who went on to greatness from the springboard of this celebrated youth tournament.
It indeed began life as the FIFA World Youth Championship with the inaugural 1977 event in Tunisia. The first winners were Soviet Union, with midfield general Vladimir Bessonov playing the starring role. The first winner of the adidas Golden Ball went on to enjoy an illustrious international career, which brought him Olympic gold in 1980 and three appearances at the FIFA World Cup, in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
The tale of Bessonov suggested the new tournament had real potential to uncover future stars, and the 1979 edition in Japan proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. A certain Diego Maradona captivated the footballing world with a first glimpse of his astonishing potential as he and an outstanding Argentina side claimed the honours.
The South Americans proved unable to defend their crown in Australia two years later, although the 1981 Albiceleste did include a striker who would go on to score the decisive goal in a FIFA World Cup Final just five years later, Jorge Burruchaga. Uruguay legend Enzo Francescoli also shot to prominence in Australia, and the Golden Ball went to Romulus Gabor, a pivot and stalwart of a very good Romania team in the following years. In Mexico two years later, Brazilian prodigy Geovani broke new ground, leaving in his wake the likes of Marco van Basten and Bebeto to become the first player awarded both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.
The label ‘Golden Generation’ was liberally bandied about at the 1991 edition in Portugal, where the host nation defended the crown. However, the brightest star was not Luis Figo, Rui Costa or Joao Pinto, but a player by the name of Peixe, whose later career was surprisingly unspectacular compared to his famous contemporaries.
Over the next few years, future headline-makers such as Adriano, Hidetoshi Nakata, Fernando Morientes and Paulo Wanchope graced the world’s most important youth tournament, before a veritable glut of future stars emerged from the 1997 event. World champions Argentina featured Juan Roman Riquelme and Esteban Cambiasso, although the adidas Golden Ball was taken home by Nicholas Olivero. The Uruguayan rarely hit the heights in the senior game, but other starlets that year went on to fame and glory, including Thierry Henry, Michael Owen, David Trezeguet and Nicolas Anelka.
By this stage, it had become apparent that the nascent superstars unearthed by the FIFA U-20 World Cup would not necessarily walk away with the individual awards. The trend was confirmed at the 1999 tournament in Nigeria, which featured Ronaldinho, Roque Santa Cruz, Peter Crouch, Xavi and Diego Forlan. In such exalted company, many commentators at the time were surprised that the Golden Ball would eventually go to Seydou Keita, but he went on to win the UEFA Champions League twice with Barcelona.
Javier Saviola, winner of both major individual awards at the 2001 tournament in Argentina, would himself go on to play his part in the Catalan success story, and also join an elite group of players to feature not only for Barça but also their arch-rivals Real Madrid. The contenders Saviola beat off in his quest for glory included a young man by the name of Kaka, who would be named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007.
When the tournament visited the United Arab Emirates in 2003, it was the start of magnificent careers for Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano, although the main attraction that year was a relative unknown named Ismaeil Matar. The attacking midfielder has now made more than 100 appearances for UAE.
In all, six players have succeeded in winning both the adidas Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Geovani and Saviola blazed the trail, to be followed by Sergio Aguero in 2007, Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah in 2009, and Henrique in 2011. The list is completed by no less a figure than three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who claimed the personal double in 2005. The gifted forward has, of course, already earned himself a place in the lexicon of football’s greats.
But who is destined to follow in the footsteps of these famous names in 2013? Part of the attraction is that we cannot possibly know in advance, but we can say with great certainty that the passionate Turkish fans will be offered an early glimpse of the stars of the future.
Portugal Tie A Must Win_ Obuh
Flying Eagles coach John Obuh has declared that Today’s opening World Cup match against Portugal is a must-win one for Nigeria.
The nation’s U20s will take on their Portuguese counterparts from 7pm Nigerian time at the beautiful Kayseri Kadir Has Stadium to kick start their 2013 World Cup campaign.
“This is our first game at the World Cup. It’s very crucial and a must-win because a win will ease the pressure on the team and it will boost our confidence,” said Obuh, who is making his second appearance at the U20 World Cup.
“Victory on Friday against what many regard as a good team from Portugal will give us qualification to the next round of the competition.”
Two weeks ago at the Toulon International Tournament in France, Portugal edged past Nigeria 2-1.
Incidentally, both teams also battled leading up to the 2011 World Cup in Colombia. The first friendly in Lisbon ended goalless, while Portugal won the second match 2-0 in an invitational tournament in Panama.
Portugal will go on to reach the World Cup final, while Nigeria crashed out at the quarterfinals.
Obuh said the Flying Eagles must therefore ensure they make fewer mistakes today.
“We have to be calm and make sure we make fewer mistakes against a good side like Portugal. Mistakes have often cost us dearly and so we cannot afford such,” he noted.
“And we also have to take our chances in front of goal while always making sure we keep a clean sheet at all times.”
The Flying Eagles, who have already trained with the official match balls Cafusa, later had a first feel of the match venue Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the 2013 World Cup in Turkey will record many firsts.
For the first time in this tournament, referees will use the vanishing spray to indicate things like free kick spots and where a defensive wall should stand.
Turkey 2013 will also present a new trophy for the competition.
Nasarawa 3 w/o 0 Adamawa
Enyimba 5 1 Police Machine
Dolphins 3 1 NAF fc (Abuja)
El Kanemi 1 0 Apa Utd
Arewa Utd (6) 0 0 (7) ABS fc
Kano Pillars 3 0 Global Academy
Warri Wolves 1 0 Dynamites
Nembe City 1 0 Mgbo Ambasadors
Plateaue Utd 2 1 Wikki Tourist
J. Atete 3 1 Insurance
Gombe Utd 9 1 Bussdor Utd
Akwa Starlets (5) 2 2 (4) kwara Utd
Lobi Stars (5) 1 1 (3) Crown fc
Ingas Enugu 2 1 Ranchers Bees
Makwada fc 0 1 Gray’s Int.
Rason fc 1 4 Samba Kurna fc
El Kanemi Babes 1 3 Tornadoes
Leopard fc 0 1 Traba fc
COD fc 2 1 Lokoja fc
Shettima Utd 2 1 Remo Stars
Fadama fc 0 3 Juth FC
J. Dandura fc 0 4 Abia Warriors
MFM fc 2 0 Court of Appeal (Abuja)
OTHER FIXTURES 24, 27/6/13
Rangers — Danlawa fc (Jigawa)
Yarma Light fc — Akwa Utd
Gateway fc — 3SC
Prime fc — Bayelsa Utd
CONFEDERATION CUP
Brazil 2 0 Mexico
Japan 3 4 Italy
Spain — Tahiti
Nigeria — Uruguay
22/6/13
Italy — Brazil
Japan — Mexico
23/6/13
Nigeria — Spain
Uruguay — Tahiti
U-20 FIFA WORLD CUP TURKEY 2013
21/6/13
Cuba — S/Korea
France — Ghana
Nigeria — Portugal
USA — Spain
22/6/13
Colombia — Austria
Turkey — Slovenia
Mexico — Greece
Paraguay — Mali
23/6/13
Chile — Egypt
England — Iraq
New Zealand — Uzbekistan
Uruguay — Croatia
