By BHM
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) ended its 2015/16 season with a resounding final match that saw Rangers International Football Club of Enugu win the league after a 4-0 trumping of El-Kanemi Warriors of Borno on Sunday 2nd October 2016 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Rangers International’s bid to end a thirty-two year wait for the league title eventually paid off as Chisom Egbuchulam and Osas Okoro recorded their names on the score sheet to help Rangers clinch the title.
The season’s final match supported by Star Lager, the official beer partner of NPFL ensured that thousands of fans at the league title deciding game had a memorable time participating in various activities at the stadium.
Star’s inclusion of the premium experience at the stadium was to deliver on the agreement it entered with the League Management Company beginning from 2015/16 season, to actively support participation of fans’ interest in league matches.
Commenting on plans by Star to further consolidate the NPFL partnership, Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries, Tokunbo Adodo, explained the final match in Enugu was an opportunity to celebrate fans as well as the participating teams in this league season.
“Let me begin by congratulating the winner and of course other teams in the league season which has ended today. As the official beer partner of the NPFL, Star is committed to fulfilling the mandates obligated by the agreement to make the league more exciting for fans and lovers of football in Nigeria. We’ve had an outstanding association with supporting good football experience and by virtue of all existing partnership, millions of fans can enjoy better quality in the round leather game on NPFL match days next season” Adodo said.
It was not merely a final match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium but celebration of the league’s new life that is gradually turning around in brighter strides, following a recent partnership announcement with Star in August this year.
Chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko said the partnership is beginning to resonate with the league, in particular, football fans.
“The season has gone a lot better than we envisaged. We had a very competitive league, many good teams playing in ways that were appealing to Nigerian football fans. We have seen clubs administering better welfare and this will continue to improve in league seasons to come. At LMC, we are very pleased to see that our efforts to restore local footfall enthusiasm is yielding fruits, averaging several thousands of audience at each match venue. Having a partner like Star has brought a deeper engagement with football fans and their favourite league clubs” Dikko said.
The partnership has seen Star Lager providing extraordinary experience zones for fans including use of NPFL logo on bottles and cans of the brand, as well as creating stronger affinity with the Nigerian league.
Furthermore, Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries, Tokunbo Adodo, added that support from super fans of the competing teams were appropriate to cap a thrilling football season.
“We are excited to be a part of what has been a thoroughly exciting season for the fans and NPFL clubs. It is unarguable that this season has been a watershed for the League Management Company, the teams and media. Star is committed to the drive in viewership and attendance at NPFL matches by using activities that resonate with fans. The experience enjoyed by fans today is only a snippet of what to expect in the next season” Adodo enthused.
Star has a long history of supporting consumers’ passion in football and in the next league season will continue to create more premium experience for fans across the country on match days.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium had a dedicated activity zone where different games that included target ball shooting, back-heel penalty and table soccer competitions were played and prizes won by excited football fans.
Captivated by the carnival-like atmosphere, supporters club from El-Kanemi Warriors engaged in a fun, cheerleading competition against the supporters club of Rangers International with the later emerging winner, as declared by the football fans that were enjoying the time of their life with Star lager.
The league season might have ended but for Star, the recognition of million shinning fans will continue to reverberate, as the premium football experience provided by the brand at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium is a taste of what to expect in the new season.
