There will not be too many pleasantries today because, with the new NPFL season almost upon us, there are some things the league organisers simply cannot afford to carry over from last season.
The past few days have offered both encouragement and pain. On one hand, the NPFL announced a new YouTube streaming partnership designed to make more league matches accessible to supporters at home and abroad. On the other, Nigerian football was confronted with the heartbreaking death of Katsina United defender Chinedu Ozor, who collapsed during a friendly against Niger Tornadoes.
The two events could hardly be more different, but together they provide an important reminder of where the priorities of the league must lie.
Broadcasting more matches is progress. Improving visibility is progress. Attracting sponsors and expanding the audience are all necessary if the NPFL wants to grow into the league many of us believe it can become. But as another season approaches, modernization cannot simply be about cameras, graphics and commercial announcements.
There are fundamentals that must come first.
Player Safety Cannot Be Negotiable
Footballers are the product.
Without them, there is nothing to stream, nothing to sponsor and nothing for supporters to fill stadiums to watch. Yet player safety is still treated too casually across Nigerian football.
Emergencies do not send invitations before arriving. A player can collapse during a competitive league match, a preseason friendly or even a training session. The response in those first few minutes can determine whether the story ends in relief or tragedy.
That is why the NPFL must establish and enforce minimum medical standards at every approved venue. Functional ambulances should be present before kickoff, not something officials begin searching for after an emergency has already occurred. Qualified medical personnel must be on standby, while lifesaving equipment such as automated external defibrillators should become basic matchday requirements rather than luxury items.
The clubs obviously have responsibilities, but the league body must set the standards and enforce them. A rule without consequences for breaking it is merely a suggestion.
We often watch incidents abroad where players suffer frightening medical emergencies and survive because the response is immediate, coordinated and professional. Christian Eriksen’s collapse at Euro 2020 remains one of the clearest examples. His survival was not a miracle produced by football; it was the result of trained people, proper equipment and systems working exactly as they were supposed to.
That level of preparedness should not be considered too much for Nigerian football.
Stadium Security Must Improve
Medical preparedness means little if the stadium itself is unsafe.
Last season produced too many images of supporters invading pitches, confronting referees and attempting to attack opposition players or officials. Every time such an incident occurs, the league’s credibility takes another hit.
A football stadium should not become hostile territory simply because the home team failed to win.
The NPFL needs clear security standards for every venue, with adequate personnel, controlled access to the pitch and meaningful sanctions when clubs fail to protect players and match officials. The punishment must be strong enough to discourage repeat behaviour rather than simply becoming another fine clubs calculate into their seasonal expenses.
Supporters should be passionate. They should make noise, complain about referees and celebrate goals like their lives depend on it. But there must be a line between passion and lawlessness.
If players, referees and visiting supporters cannot feel safe, then we are not building a professional football league.
Player Welfare Must Become More Than a Talking Point
There is also the issue of player welfare.
Every season we hear stories about unpaid salaries, delayed bonuses and contractual disputes. The league body has attempted to intervene in some cases, but enforcement still needs to become more consistent.
Clubs should not be allowed to make promises they cannot sustain simply because they want to compete in the NPFL. If minimum financial obligations exist, then clubs must demonstrate that they are capable of meeting them.
This should go beyond threats and public announcements.
There needs to be a proper system that allows players to report breaches, get cases resolved quickly and receive what they are contractually owed without turning every disagreement into a social media war.
A league that wants to attract better footballers and retain its best talent must create an environment where professionalism is expected from both players and employers.
Get the Matchday Product Right
The new streaming arrangement is welcome because visibility has been one of the NPFL’s biggest problems.
There are Nigerians living hundreds and thousands of kilometres away from their favourite clubs who should be able to watch them regularly. There are potential sponsors who need to see the product before investing in it. There are young supporters who consume almost everything through their phones and will never develop an attachment to the league if the league is invisible to them.
So yes, stream the games.
But also improve what is being streamed.
Broadcasting a poorly presented match does not automatically make the product better. Pitches must improve. Kickoff times should be respected. Team sheets and statistics should be readily available. Match officials should be identifiable. Score graphics should be accurate. Commentary should be professional and the camera should not suddenly disappear when something important happens.
If the world is going to watch, then give the world something worth watching.
Otherwise, technology will only make our shortcomings available in higher definition.
Communication Matters Too
Another area the league must improve is communication.
When major incidents happen, the NPFL should not appear like another football fan account waiting for somebody else to provide information first.
Whether it is a medical emergency, fixture change, disciplinary decision or major league announcement, supporters should be able to look towards the league’s official platforms for clear and timely information.
That responsibility becomes even more important during moments of tragedy.
The response to the passing of Chinedu Ozor should remind everyone that football administration is not only about issuing fixture lists and commercial statements. These are human beings playing the game, and when something terrible happens, the league should respond with the seriousness, empathy and leadership expected from the body responsible for the competition.
Communication is part of professionalism.
Protect the Integrity of the Competition
Officiating must also remain high on the list.
There is no point investing heavily in streaming and promotion if supporters tune in every weekend and leave believing that results are being determined by questionable decisions.
Referees need better training, improved welfare and stronger protection from intimidation. They should also be held accountable for poor performances without automatically becoming scapegoats for every defeat.
The league must continue moving towards an environment where teams genuinely believe they can travel anywhere in Nigeria and compete fairly.
The old idea that the home team must somehow win should be buried permanently.
The more unpredictable the competition becomes, the more attractive it will be.
Modernization Must Have a Foundation
Nobody should dismiss the importance of the new streaming partnership. The league needs visibility, money and commercial growth. Those things can eventually improve clubs and provide opportunities across Nigerian football.
But modernization cannot begin from the roof.
Before decorating the house, make sure the foundation is strong.
Medical facilities. Player welfare. Stadium security. Better officiating. Proper pitches. Consistent scheduling. Effective communication. Accountability.
These things may not generate flashy unveiling ceremonies, but they are what ultimately determine whether a league is genuinely professional.
With kickoff approaching, this is the responsibility before the NPFL organisers.
The new season will bring goals, controversies, surprise title contenders and the usual arguments over refereeing. There will be plenty to discuss once the ball begins rolling.
But before all of that, the league must make sure the basic conditions are in place for the people at the centre of the product to work safely and professionally.
Stream the matches to the world by all means.
Just make sure we are not broadcasting our shortcomings along with them.
