NRFF President Pours Encomium On African Sports Connect Over Sponsorship

NRFF President Hails African Sports Connect Over Sponsorship

By Niyi Busari

 Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) President, Dr Ademola Are has eulogised South African company, African Sports Connect over completion of agreement to sponsor and partner with the federation in developing the game in the country, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

 In 2022, Thabo Kulu, Chairman African Sports Connect had pledged to support the NRFF when he led a consortium from the company to inspect the facilities inside Package B of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

He said the South African company had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NRRF in the area of private funding and technical expertise for the development of the sport.

Kubu during his visit last year, said Nigeria is blessed with talents but a lot should be done to bring in private sponsorship and standard facilities across the country.

“One of the biggest challenge to Rugby in Nigeria is funding, government has contributed a lot but the private sector must help in terms of working with civil society and the federation to see to the sustenance of the game.

”The MoUs on the table is to help promote, develop and explore areas of funding for the sport.

“We are known to bring technical expertise from south Africa and you would agree with me that in South Africa, the private sector is at helms of the development of rugby,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ademola Are, President, NRFF, praises Kubu led consortium and the company adding that the partnership was part of efforts to give rugby a new face in Nigeria, in line with international best practices.

He said the NRRF would continue to collaborate with relevant local and international stakeholders to develop the sport in Nigeria.

"It's important that we appreciate Thabo Kubu and his company, African Sports Connect for collaborating with the federation to assist in term of funding and training of technical expertise.

“We are looking at how we can improve our grassroots programme, rugby series, the rugby league, tertiary institution games and that is why we are partnering with the South Africans.

“You know South Africans are one of the best when it comes to Rugby, so we will be having series of robust meetings,” he said.

South Africa hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, they were champions again in 2007 (France) and 2019 (Japan).