Secretary of Nigeria Nationwide League, NNWL, Shola Ogunnowo has explained his body’s preference to ensure that all the clubs affiliated to the league send their players for compulsory medical assessment from the new season.
The NNWL scribe, while speaking to eyeonthesports.com in Lagos recently, said it was a scheme initiated to ensure that the Nationwide League players are physically fit and protected from untimely deaths through heart failures or other life-threatening injuries during active games.
According to Okunnowo, the NNWL board is working hard to get all machinery in motion to making the next league season a grand one.
“Our body is determined to bring some new innovations to the Nigeria Nationwide League, which would improve on the lives of the players. Apart from that, the development of all the clubs featuring in the NNWL is paramount in our programme for the coming season”, the scribe added. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, took some decisions that affect the Nigeria Nationwide League during it 69th Annual General Meeting, AGM, held in Warri, Delta State late last year.
At the AGM, the NFF approved of the engagement of NNWL Medical Officer, Dr. Olajide Adebola and sanctioned the engagement of Premium Sports Management Services, as the Official Marketer of the NNWL, while the body’s sponsorship agreement of N8 million annually for 3 years with Standard Alliance Insurance PLC was also approved.
Meanwhile, the sponsorship deal between the Nationwide League and Standard Alliance Insurance PLC, which is expected to run for three years will gulp about N24 million.