NPFL U-17 All Stars Set to Embark on Spain Tour



By the time the new Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season kicks off, on August 31, all twenty clubs in the elite division would be transfixed on the ₦200m prize for the 2024/2025 champions as announced by NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye during Club Owners Annual General Meeting in Abuja.


However, jacking up the prize money is not the only improvement or innovation, on the mind of the football league body.

At a recent meeting with the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Juan Ignacio Sell, NPFL chief Elegbeleye expressed readiness to partner top youth clubs in Spain for exposure and development of budding soccer talents from Nigeria.

Elegbeleye said the future of Nigerian football lies in the youths hence he intends to take the bull by its horn.

"It is on record that Spain have the best youth development programme in Europe. The likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and others grew through Spanish football academies. Another shining example is the current world sensation, Lamine Yamal. Also, with the recent success of their national team in the 2024 European Championship, the Spaniards are head and shoulders ahead, not forgetting Real Madrid's triumph in the UEFA Champions League, last season. Those go a long way in encapsulating our passion and NPFL's interest in the proposed partnership.

"On Monday, I hope to be in the Spanish capital Madrid for discussions on how to integrate outstanding youths from Nigeria's top league. Thereafter, I will be in Seville - one of the best places in Europe for youth programmes - for the same purpose.

"The overall plan is to expand the opportunities for these NPFL players to better training under different technical officials and give them the choice of experiencing global standard as European leagues are interested in young talents."

The 2nd Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) also looked into the future financial gains for the players and their respective clubs.

"The long term intention is to grow the financial base of the various NPFL clubs; if for instance a player is able to attract transfer market value of about €500,000, that is about ₦800m. A serious club administrator can use such money to prosecute two league seasons, successfully. 

"We will always publicize any player who is successful in getting a professional contract so that the governments who actually own the clubs will be aware. Imagine a club getting two of such players in every other year, it will not require government financial support anymore.  Infact clubs are supposed to generate money for the government and not the current absurd narrative."
   
Gbenga Elegbeleye said upon the completion of his tour, the youth players would travel out to Spain for test matches.

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