Hero lager beer, a product of International Breweries PLC has signed a partnership deal with five Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs, Completesports reports.

The deal was signed on Tuesday, 14th December, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

The clubs are Enyimba, Abia Warriors, Ifeanyi Ubah, Heartland and Enugu Rangers.

The amount involved in the deal, which will run only for next season, was not disclosed.

Among top dignitaries who were present include Marketing Director International Breweries PLC Tolulope Adedeji, NFF president Amaju Pinnick, First Vice president Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, League Management Company (LMC) president Shehu Dikko, representatives of the five clubs and president of the Referee Association of Nigeria.

Also in attendance were Nigeria internationals Julius Aghahowa and Chikelue Iloenyosi.

Representatives of the five clubs during the signing of the partnership deal

On Air Personality and comedian Steve Onu, popularly known as Yaw was the anchor for the event and Igbo cultural dance group Ogene, was on hand to entertain the guests.

In his remarks, NFF president Pinnick says the new partnership will go a long way in tackling the welfare of players.

“The reason why I came on board is because we are here for the welfare of the players which is very important.

“When we are playing we always have the support of the clubs owners and we say let’s tackle the welfare of the players which will make the young ones see that there is something in for them if they put their best.”

Speaking on the deal, LMC chairman Dikko said:”I thank everybody for being present here today, it’s a special occasion. This is the way to do it, thankfully our president is here member of FIFA Council Amaju Pinnick, Vice President is here and what I know is that history will always remember us for the effort we have been putting to move our football forward. 

“What me and Seyi (Akinwunmi) always tell who cares to listen is how to make our football the fundamental of our economy. Once you are able to achieve that and when the government is giving the statistics concerning the contribution, football needs to be among the top three, because this country has all the ingredients and capacity and we only need to come together and move forward.”

And according to Aghahowa, who played for Bendel Insurance in the Nigerian league during his professional career, said:”As a product of the league I have contributed my own part to the development of football in this country and we also want the younger ones coming to follow that line.

“We’ve seen the efforts the NFF has put to the development of the game and for that to happen we need to have more sponsors, we need to have more people like Heroes.”