The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a partnership with Spanish La Liga outfit Sevilla FC to develop coaches and young players in the Nigerian topflight.
The partnership, which is part of Sevilla’s ‘World Club Alliance Programme,’ aims to provide expert advice in sporting and other areas of development, with a focus on coach training and youth talent development.
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NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who recently visited Sevilla’s facilities in Spain, expressed his delight at the partnership, stating that the NPFL will greatly benefit from Sevilla’s expertise. “We have 20 clubs in the NPFL, and they all have their youth academies. I know the history and track record of Sevilla FC. This is a very good club who have won trophies in Spain and Europe for many years. I feel that with their development strategy and their youth development programme, Nigeria can benefit,” Elegbeleye said.
The partnership will see Sevilla provide training for NPFL coaches, as well as offer opportunities for young Nigerian players to train with the Spanish club. Elegbeleye believes that this will help improve the quality of players in the NPFL, saying, “We believe that the best players in the Nigeria Youth League will be able to come here every season to train. With your help and training, when they return, they can become better players.”
Sevilla FC President, José María del Nido Carrasco, also welcomed the partnership, stating that it will help grow the club’s fanbase in Africa. “We are very happy to be able to work with the NPFL. Sevilla FC are convinced that this alliance can help NPFL clubs to continue improving and encourage the development of youth players. It is a new decisive step in our internationalisation process and will help our brand to continue to grow in Africa, in a country like Nigeria, from which we are receiving a lot of support after the signing of Chidera Ejuke.”
