We Are Passionate About Nigeria’s Sports Development, Says Xiao

WITH less than three weeks to the kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigerians were worried that they would not be able to follow their darling Super Eagles through the usual channel following the outcome of the broadcast rights auction by the Confederation of African Football ( CAF). But just when the fans were settling down to the reality that they would have to explore streaming outlets for their 2023 AFCON experience, from the blues came the information that satellite broadcasting outfit, Startimes, has acquired the rights to televise the games in Nigeria.

So, with the games kicking off today, many Nigerians are now relaxed that they have opportunity of following their favourite team through the cities of Cote d’ivoire.

This is not Startimes’ first time of rescuing Nigerian football fans when it seemed that everything has been stacked against them.

For more than six years, the Nigerian Premier Football League ( NPFL) was not on television, thus making it difficult for many followers of the local game to know what was happening in the competition. Although there was an attempt to stream some of the matches to interested fans live, it seemed that the local game was being left behind when such ‘ smaller’ countries like Ethiopia, Zambia, Ghana and Kenya had their leagues on television.

Again, Startimes came into the scene with a multi- billion naira five- year broadcast deal that has brought NPFL games back on the screens. Now, Nigerians and lovers of the country’s football from across the world have opportunity of following their teams every week. More importantly, the teams now have opportunity of marketing their operations and getting sponsors across the world to know the level of development they have attained.

These developments are some of the programmes Startimes Nigeria’s CEO, Eric Xiao, told The Guardian during the week that they have for the country.

Eric, who said his organisation has a deep interest in Nigeria’s sports development, projected that the country would soon be among the top sports countries in the world if all the critical stakeholders continue working together to build the sector.

“Nigerians are passionate about their sports and can do anything to support their team. That was why we saw the need to ensure we help them be part of the Africa Cup of Nations when it seemed they would miss out of the competition.

“We have also intervened in the Nigeria Premier Football League ( NPFL) to make the games accessible to fans across the world and also provide opportunities for the teams to build their brands.”

Apart from the AFCON and the NPFL, Xiao said is also exposing the country to other competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup, and The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023. The AFC Asian Cup kicked off yesterday with host nation, Qatar, opening the tournament with a game against Lebanon.

He said: “Asian giants like Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia battle it out for the coveted trophy, alongside rising stars like China and Vietnam. We will broadcast every match live, ensuring you don’t miss a single moment of the drama.

“The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 will cap off this footballing feast on Monday. It recognises the world’s best players and coaches.” He tipped the Super Eagles to do well at the AFCON despite the misgivings by the team’s fans, who feel that poor goalkeeping would be the nation’s undoing in Cote d’ivoire.

Startimes PR Manager, Lazarus Ibeabuchi, echoed Xiao’s optimism that Nigerian sports is on the right path, affirming that his organisation would be at the forefront of building the sector to a top player in the country’s economy.