Nigeria National League (NNL) outfit Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC Ilorin has entered a two-year contract with Sports Flames Limited, a sports consultancy and marketing agency, in a bid to scale up its corporate revenues.
Stakeholders gathered at the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Centre in Ilorin on Friday to witness the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Elevating the Business of Football
Detailing the vision behind the alliance, ABS Ilorin FC’s Director of Football, High Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, noted that the agreement is designed to enhance the team’s operational value and financial standing. He stressed that the move is part of an ongoing effort to run the club like a modern corporate entity, noting that the marketing firm is coming on board specifically to handle the commercial side of their operations.
“This is one of the events that is done to ensure that ABS FC is run in a professional manner. Sportflames is a sports marketing consultant company, and they are joining us in the business of football” he stated.
Mr. Chukwuemeka unequivocally elucidated on the objective of the partnership in a statement which reads “We are bringing in sport flames who are going to help us in a lot of ways in ensuring that the professionalism in which ABS is known for is sustained such a way that we are going to have fans base activation, sponsorship, marketing and in the area of digitising all our activities”
According to the veteran administrator, the agency’s role will centre on optimizing the club’s current setup to unlock fresh opportunities. He highlighted that Sports Flames will help maintain the club’s administrative standards through targeted campaigns. The collaboration will focus heavily on:
Re-engineering the club’s fan engagement strategies
Attracting corporate sponsors
Executing modern marketing campaigns
Migrating all club operations into the digital space
Chukwuemeka further pointed out that with a history spanning more than two decades in domestic football, ABS FC will continue to uphold its legacy as a vital hub for discovering and nurturing young athletic talent.
Overcoming Industry Challenges
Echoing these sentiments, Olatoye Olawale, the Managing Partner of Sports Flames, explained that his agency partnered with ABS FC because of the club’s organized administrative framework and its dedication to grassroots development.
Olatoye recognised the contributions of the club while expressing hope in the alliance. “It is tough to sustain a club in Nigeria. ABS FC has a lot of potential and has produced great talents and we believe that as a team that has structure and understand development, if we align, we can achieve great things”.
While acknowledging the financial hurdles that come with operating a football team in Nigeria, Olatoye remained confident that this joint venture would create new revenue streams, boost the team’s public profile, and ensure its future financial stability. He observed that while keeping a team afloat in the country is difficult, ABS FC’s proven track record of developing top-tier talent makes them an ideal partner for achieving major milestones.
Olatoye concluded by stating that the two-year deal will transform the NNL side by introducing innovative matchday experiences, expanding their supporter base, maximizing income, and integrating digital tools into daily operations.
Attending guests also praised the initiative, sharing their optimism that the agreement will successfully raise the competitive bar for the Ilorin-based club.
