Spanish club Sevilla FC has announced a partnership with the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), incorporating the NPFL as a part of the club’s ‘World Club Alliance Program.’
Sevilla FC’s president, José María del Nido Carrasco, confirmed this partnership in a statement last week:
“We are very pleased to be able to work with the Nigerian Professional League. Sevilla FC is convinced that with this alliance it can help NPFL clubs to continue improving at a sporting level and promote the development of their young talent. It is a new decisive step in our internationalisation process and will help our brand continue to grow in Africa, especially in a country like Nigeria from which we are receiving a lot of support after the signing of Chidera Ejuke.”
NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye equally expressed his delight at this collaboration:
“We have 20 clubs in the Nigerian Premier League and all of them have their own youth teams. I know the history and track record of Sevilla FC. This is a very good club with major trophies and champions of Spain and Europe for many years. I feel that with their development strategy and youth development program, Nigeria can benefit from it.
We believe that the best players from the Nigerian Youth League will be able to come here every season for training. With their help and training, when they come back, some of them will have become better players. We also have a training agreement for our coaches which will be positive for us. It is a win-win agreement for everyone in the NPFL.”
This alliance will usher in advice in sporting and other areas of development. There is going to be a special focus on the training of coaches and the development of young Nigerian players. The NPFL stands to benefit a lot from the wealth of experience and knowledge that Sevilla FC possesses, ushering in a new era of innovation and future development in the Nigerian league. Young talents will be given a global platform to display their skills while coaches will receive strategic training in modern day tactics. A smart move for both parties as there is an immeasurable pool of talent across the country. It will also help to strengthen sporting and political ties between Nigeria and Spain.
Nigerians have been paying extra attention to the Andalusian side after they snapped up the services of Chidera Ejuke and Kelechi Iheanacho on free transfers. This partnership will only increase the amount of attention and support they’ll receive from the West African country.
The NPFL team, led by its Chairman, made a visit to Sevilla FC. They visited the historic Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium and the facilities of the José Ramón Cisneros Palacios Sports City. Activities are underway as they held the initial working meetings with the club’s sports department to take the first steps in the alliance between both entities.
The NPFL joins Gangwon FC of South Korea and FC Bengaluru United of India in this alliance program.