LMC Disburses N50m Merit Award Earnings to Clubs.

The N50 million Merit Award announced by the League Management Company (LMC) for all the 20 clubs which took part in the 2012/13 Glo Premier League season according to their placement after the Week 38 fixtures have now been credited into their respective bank accounts.

Chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor, confirmed the remittance to the clubs on Thursday. He urged prospective Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) participants to prepare for a well-standardised league which could impact on a robust monetary benefit on the long run.

“There is a lot to benefit from running our clubs professionally and as we continue the processes for the Club Licensing regulations, it is important that we focus more on the long term benefits that will bring while also preparing our players to win honours that will lead to monetary rewards such as the Merit Award in the short term”, Irabor said.

League Management Company.
League Management Company.

According to the chairman, the performance-based benefit of the Glo Premier League Merit Award is an equitable distribution of the sponsorship earnings of the LMC channeled towards ensuring a healthy competitive spirit by not accruing any reverence to a winner-takes-all situation.

“We needed to create inspirational values in the league which will accommodate the different levels of strengths inherent in the clubs and the Merit Award represents that proposition. It will bring the best out of the teams and at the same time compensate those who do not have the same competitive strength”, Nduka added.

Some of the clubs which took part in the league the last time were involved in monetary sanctions. The LMC, however, disclosed such clubs’ individual indebtedness to the league arising from disciplinary penalties and petition fees was chalked off their earnings before the remittance.

Champions, Kano Pillars, claimed the highest figure of N10m while 3SC were entitled to N1m for finishing bottom of the 20-team table.

The top earners in order of performance are Kano Pillars (N10m), Enyimba International (N7.5m), Bayelsa United (N5M) and El-Kanemi Warriors (N2.5m). Others are Rangers International (N2.1m), Warri Wolves (N1.95m), Gombe United (1N1.9m), Sharks (N1.85m) and Dolphins (N1.8m). Kaduna United (N1.75m), Heartland (N1.7m), Sunshine Stars (N1.65m), Lobi Stars (N1.6m) and Nasarawa (N1.5m). The remaining clubs are Nembe City (N1.4m), Akwa United (N1. 3m), Kwara United (N1.25m), Abubakar Bukola Saraki Babes(N1.2m), Wikki Tourists (N1.05m) and Shooting Stars (N1m).