In the ever-evolving world of professional football, credibility and professionalism are as important as skill on the pitch. While the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has significantly improved its operations, branding is a critical yet often overlooked area.
However, this time, I am narrowing it to branding communication tools like domain emails instead of generic ones like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com.
This shift may seem minor, but in today’s digital landscape, it plays a significant role in enhancing credibility, trust, and operational efficiency for clubs, stakeholders, and the league as a whole.
More than half of the teams in the league are guilty of this without naming.
Many NPFL clubs and officials still rely on generic email services (e.g., npflclub@gmail.com or teamofficial@yahoo.com) to communicate with sponsors, players, and league administrators. While this practice is common, it presents several challenges.
First, it creates a lack of professionalism, as a generic email lacks brand identity and can make correspondence appear informal or untrustworthy.
Secondly, it poses security risks, as personal email services are more vulnerable to phishing attacks, hacking, and data breaches.
Additionally, clubs lose brand identity by not reinforcing their name with every email sent.
Most importantly, using generic emails can reduce sponsor and partner confidence. Business partners and international investors may hesitate to engage with entities that do not use official email domains, which can indicate a lack of proper organisational structure.
A branded domain email is a custom email address tied to a football club’s website domain (e.g., info@rangersfc.com.ng instead of rangersfc@gmail.com).
This simple change significantly elevates a club’s professionalism and trustworthiness.
The transition to branded emails is more straightforward than many think, and NPFL clubs can follow a few easy steps to make the switch, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process.
First, clubs must register a domain name through many available platforms to secure a recognisable web address like www.mysoccerclub.com.ng.
Given their functional websites, all the teams already have this. Next, they need to set up email hosting, which many domain providers offer as an add-on service or at an affordable fee, depending on the number of emails to be created.
Alternatively, clubs can use business-class email hosting services like Google Workspace, Zoho Mail, or Microsoft 365.
Once hosting is set up, clubs can create professional email addresses, replacing informal addresses like teammanager123@yahoo.com with structured ones such as teammanager@clubname.com.ng, press@clubname.com.ng, or admin@clubname.com.ng.
Finally, clubs must integrate these emails into their daily operations, ensuring all official communications, contracts, press releases, and player negotiations use the new email structure.
Adopting branded domain emails offers multiple advantages. It enhances professionalism, making clubs look more structured and organised.
It also improves security, as business email service provides better encryption, reducing the risk of hacking.
Every email sent reinforces brand visibility and the club’s official website domain.
Most importantly, sponsors, agents, and international partners are more likely to trust and engage with a club that presents itself professionally, making the club feel more attractive and appealing.
Internally, standardised staff emails improve communication efficiency, reducing confusion and errors. These benefits are not just theoretical but practical and achievable for every NPFL club.
The NPFL is at a stage where modernisation is beneficial and crucial. Something as simple as switching from generic emails to branded domain emails can make a huge difference in how Nigerian clubs are perceived globally.
Football is more than just what happens on the pitch—it’s also about business, sponsorships, and strong branding.
If the NPFL wants to attract major investors and establish itself as a top football league in Africa, small but high-impact digital changes like this are not just beneficial but essential. The global perception of the NPFL is at stake, and it’s time to take action.
It’s time for Nigerian football clubs to step up their game—not just on the field but in how they present themselves to the world.
I urge all NPFL clubs to consider this simple, impactful change and transition to branded domain emails. Let’s enhance the credibility and professionalism of our league together.
– Abass Suara is a sports and tech strategy expert. writes in from Indiana, USA.
Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.
Boosting Credibility In Nigeria Football League: Why Branded Communication Tools Matter is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
