Grassroots football has been left fallow for
a long time, despite it’s large market size.
It’s ten times larger than Professional
football and four timers larger than all the
sports put together in Nigeria. Yet, it hasn’t
captured the interest of sports business
people in the country or across the world.
Indeed, it’s difficult to discover on the
surface where the profit centers are, that’s
why it is a hidden treasure.
The market for Grassroots football can’t be
taken for granted, even at this primary level.
For instance, 80 to 90% of suburban Lagos
youth play football, but the inner cities have
relatively few people or companies
promoting kids football, especially girls.
This segment of the football market in
Nigeria are largely neglected – comprises of
players, coaches, referees, and young lads
who want to become one thing or another
in the football industry, but are not properly
trained.
Grassroots football in Nigeria need to be
organized. It need more opportunities for
talent discovery, training and development,
exposure and opportunities to jump start
Professional football career. Many talents
are wasted in the country due to lack of
opportunity to harness the youth. You can
develop your own unique products to meet
these needs.
But how can you develop a product for this
segment of the market with zero income?
They won’t have effective demand for it. I
thought so too when I first ventured into
the niche. Most of the talented kids are
rather from poor background and can’t
afford to be in Academies or go for football
holiday camps - this is why you need to
develop your own profit centers.
Sponsorship is the answer! Find sponsors
for your events and programs. Find
sponsors for the individual talents you’ve
discovered and help them to the next level.
Cooperate sponsors are responding now.
There is a shift towards grassroots football
and companies now prefer to put their
money in talent hunt programs and youth
development academies rather than the
elite professional leagues.
Big time sponsors have either bought over
a franchised events or created their own
football show: Copa Coca Cola, MTN Street
Soccer, Gulder 5-A-Side… They may be
interested in sponsorship of your own
program or event, if it meets their
cooperate objectives.
Alternatively, you may decide to target
youth with a family income of about $40,
000 per annum and above. This sub group
represent a small number, less than 1% of
the entire market size. Parents and
guidance in this sub group may not be in
the league of those wanting their kids to
pursue professional football career. They
may just allow their wards play football for
health and fitness sake.
Something I found out, even youth from
the low income family can raise the fund.
The serious ones are ready to pay any price
to realize their dreams. You may wonder
why fraudsters launch their schemes on
this same segment of the market that seem
to have zero income. You will be alarmed at
the huge amount of money they reap off
from these poor youth.
I found out there are lot of money to be
made from grassroots football market in
Nigeria. I can give you some fast ideas of
the hottest products in the market: Kids
football Apparels and Kits, Kids Football
Club; Youth Football Academies, Football
Holiday Camps and Football Clinics
a long time, despite it’s large market size.
It’s ten times larger than Professional
football and four timers larger than all the
sports put together in Nigeria. Yet, it hasn’t
captured the interest of sports business
people in the country or across the world.
Indeed, it’s difficult to discover on the
surface where the profit centers are, that’s
why it is a hidden treasure.
The market for Grassroots football can’t be
taken for granted, even at this primary level.
For instance, 80 to 90% of suburban Lagos
youth play football, but the inner cities have
relatively few people or companies
promoting kids football, especially girls.
This segment of the football market in
Nigeria are largely neglected – comprises of
players, coaches, referees, and young lads
who want to become one thing or another
in the football industry, but are not properly
trained.
Grassroots football in Nigeria need to be
organized. It need more opportunities for
talent discovery, training and development,
exposure and opportunities to jump start
Professional football career. Many talents
are wasted in the country due to lack of
opportunity to harness the youth. You can
develop your own unique products to meet
these needs.
But how can you develop a product for this
segment of the market with zero income?
They won’t have effective demand for it. I
thought so too when I first ventured into
the niche. Most of the talented kids are
rather from poor background and can’t
afford to be in Academies or go for football
holiday camps - this is why you need to
develop your own profit centers.
Sponsorship is the answer! Find sponsors
for your events and programs. Find
sponsors for the individual talents you’ve
discovered and help them to the next level.
Cooperate sponsors are responding now.
There is a shift towards grassroots football
and companies now prefer to put their
money in talent hunt programs and youth
development academies rather than the
elite professional leagues.
Big time sponsors have either bought over
a franchised events or created their own
football show: Copa Coca Cola, MTN Street
Soccer, Gulder 5-A-Side… They may be
interested in sponsorship of your own
program or event, if it meets their
cooperate objectives.
Alternatively, you may decide to target
youth with a family income of about $40,
000 per annum and above. This sub group
represent a small number, less than 1% of
the entire market size. Parents and
guidance in this sub group may not be in
the league of those wanting their kids to
pursue professional football career. They
may just allow their wards play football for
health and fitness sake.
Something I found out, even youth from
the low income family can raise the fund.
The serious ones are ready to pay any price
to realize their dreams. You may wonder
why fraudsters launch their schemes on
this same segment of the market that seem
to have zero income. You will be alarmed at
the huge amount of money they reap off
from these poor youth.
I found out there are lot of money to be
made from grassroots football market in
Nigeria. I can give you some fast ideas of
the hottest products in the market: Kids
football Apparels and Kits, Kids Football
Club; Youth Football Academies, Football
Holiday Camps and Football Clinics
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