The Nigeria  Professional Football League and Nigeria Breweries, makers of Star Beer yesterday announced a ground-breaking partnership deal. The announcement comes months after the League Management Company (LMC) (managers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) announced a partnership with La Liga.

The event had in attendance some Nigerian football legends; key sports regulators and officials, celebrities and of course Star Larger consumers.

PARTNERSHIP… The Nigeria Breweries Plc yesterday signed a 5-year partnership deal with the League Management Company in Lagos. From left, Marketing Director Nigeria Breweries, Franco Maria-Maggi,Chairman, League Management Company, Mr. Shehu Dikko, MD Nigeria Breweries, Nicolaas Vervelde, Marketing Director Nigeria Breweries, First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi at the ceremony.

Speaking on the partnership and what the NPFL stands to gain, Chairman, League Management Company, Shehu Dikko said, “The NPFL has grown rapidly over the past few years and with new partnerships like this, we hope to push it beyond expectations and make it the biggest league in Africa. Bringing Star to the table is only natural as Star has identified with football in Nigeria over the years.”

The announcement saw Chairman, League Management Company  in a symbolic exchange of jerseys with the Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr Tokunbo Adodo. Dodo later said, “We have a longstanding claim to football so it’s only natural for us to prove our love for the game by partnering with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). We can assure fans of innovative and thrilling developments in the years to come”.

This 5-year partnership will push the frontiers for football in Nigeria and it is hoped that this will be the start of great things for Nigerian football fans and lovers of the Star brand.

An average of 8,000 fans attended games in the 2014/15 season, according to the LMC’s season review. This is the biggest crowd number for domestic football in Nigeria for more than 15 years and is expected to rise this year. It is common these days to see families attend local league matches in their bright club replica jerseys due to the increased security at venues across the country.