Agara wants LMC to quash N100m guarantee fund demand

The Special Adviser to Governor Tanko Al-Makura on Sports, Mr Silas Agara has appealed to the League Management Committee (LMC) to quash one of its conditions for clubs’ registration for the upcoming Glo Nigeria Premier League season, which requires clubs to provide aN100 million guarantee fund.

Agara, who made the appeal in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, however said he was in total support of all the other conditions set for the clubs to register for the new soccer season.

“I agree with some of the issues raised by the League Management Committee for registration for the new season, like the enhanced salaries for players and coaches. I also support the LMC on the three years contract for players, and we in Nasarawa United are working to implement these conditions; but I want the committee to go back to the drawing board on the issue of the N100m guarantee fund,” Agara said.

According to him, most of the premier league clubs in the country are own by the state governments, which are run as social service and not a profit making ventures, which makes it difficult for the clubs to meet the set target.

He noted that it would take another round of budget proposal that would go though the various state assemblies before such monies are raised, as initial budget did not capture such a spending.

Besides, the former Commissioner of Sports in Nasarawa State such demands would discourage most states from continued sponsorship of the clubs and therefore affect football development in the country.

“I commend the LMC for what they are doing to improve our football league, but issues like these should be given a second look before most state governments are discouraged from further funding their clubs,” he concluded.