Head of LaLiga in Nigeria Desmond Chiji speaks with OLAWALE OLANIYAN on how to make LaLiga more lucrative and plans to bring new names to the league come next season. We bring you excerpts of an interview with him.
How is the league without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ?
For LaLiga, it has been an honour to have had players of the stature of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing in our league, we always have the best players in our clubs. In recent years, LaLiga has managed to create a strong, global brand and competition that is above a few clubs or players. At the same time, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are great brands that do not depend on one player or the other.
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LaLiga has always had the best. We were able to count on the talent of Cristiano, Neymar or Ramos, Messi – stars who left and made room for other great players. Now we can enjoy players like Luis Suárez, Benzema, Oblak, Alaba, de Jong, Pedri, etc. We believe more will come.
What are you doing to sign big names?
We believe that with the new development going on right now with the LaLiga impulse, with the LaLiga clubs and various LaLiga projects worldwide, it is a matter of time before we start seeing more big-name players coming to LaLiga.
How do you want to make the league a world leading reference?
We are working hard to make LaLiga world leading references through the following:
Financial Fair Play, which is helping LaLiga clubs to be much more diligent in handling their affairs and with a long-term plan of making them more competitive.
Collaboration with our broadcasters: Working hand in hand with our broadcasters with the knowledge of the latest trends and to help in their development as much as that of LaLiga developing more relationships working hand in hand with stakeholders, institutions, partners in the countries we are present, speaking the local language, enhancing local talent, and aiding in its development.
Digital: continue our growth in terms of visibility, digitally increasing the number of our followers around the world as well as generating opportunities for LaLiga and its clubs.
Boost LaLiga: the creation of LaLiga group international, the new holding company that will coordinate “boost LaLiga”. The strategic project joining LaLiga and global investment fund CVC with 8.2% stake in the new company.
According to Javier Tebas, LaLiga President, “this agreement, a first for professional sports in our country, will provide LaLiga clubs with necessary boost to fast forward 20 years in terms of professionalism and development.
LaLiga business school: to actively contribute to the development and professionalization of sports and entertainment industry through education. With over 20 partners worldwide in which Lagos Business School in Nigeria is part of this journey.
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LaLiga grassroots programs: a new global initiative to support, promote, bolster grassroots programs around the world, including development of coaches and talents through the LaLiga methodology.
Is there a new innovation being planned for LaLiga Nigeria?
At the moment, we are working on a few things for Nigeria as LaLiga views Nigeria as an integral part of its development across the region.
We have started working with partners like MTN on the LaLiga MTN Trivia, a football platform where LaLiga fans can be part of and stand chances of winning prizes.
We are also working on developing the LaLiga grassroots program to give home to it here in Nigeria with the collaboration of strategic partners.
All we can say is there a lot of work in the pipeline and together with the LaLiga office and our official commercial agents, Legacy Sports, we are working nonstop to make Nigeria more productive in terms of various activations to enhance talent and promote other areas of sports. Right now, we cannot give out too many details as work is still ongoing.
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However, in the coming months/years, we should be expecting big things and big partnership announcement from Nigeria. We need the local stakeholders to continue our development in Nigeria.