**As Lafia Side Claims 3-1 Win Over Mighty Jets In Season Opener
By: Tayo Ogunseye
Jubrin Kaura, the captain of Basira FC was brimming with smile but perhaps, he was unaware of the importance of the history he and his teammates had created in the Nigeria National League on Saturday on MatchDay 1
The defender had led his team to a 3-1 victory over Mighty Jets of Jos in an entertaining season opening match in the 2nd-tier division.
Forward Abubakar Yusuf scored the first goal in the 6th minute which was symbolic as the first goal of the 2025-2026 season before he added another in the 39th to register his brace on the night.
Peter Eneji would confirm Basira FC’s victory with a third in the 46th minute before the visitors got a consolatory goal.
The final whistle by the centre referee, bestowed on Kaura and his teammates along with three technical staff the honour of being the first beneficiaries of the BetPawa/NNL Locker Room Bonus Award.
The league body led by George Aluo with the sponsor, had worked out a reward system for every winning team where each 20 players and three technical staff’s mobile accounts would be credit directly with a sum of 56,000 naira each immediately after the end of the match.
Being the first beneficiaries of the reward system, Kaura echoed the excitement surrounding his team as he thanked the league body and the sponsor for the gesture.
“I have just received my (winning) bonus from the league sponsor BetPawa. I’m very, very happy. I’m very, very grateful. My teammates and I are very, very happy and appreciate this. Before, our club owner used to pay our bonus but with this BetPawa Locker Room bonus, it has covered up the expenses for him,” said Kaura whose wife was delivered of a baby girl in late October.
NNL Chairman George Aluo who watched the entertaining encounter at the Lafia Stadium alongside Nasarawa State Governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule and some of his executive including the Commissioner for Justice Isaac Danladi, Sports Commissioner, the state APC chairman, Secretary General of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and other dignitaries said the body will not rest on it’s oars as it strived to elevate the league to an enviable status.
“What we have witnessed in this season’s opening match between Basira FC and Mighty Jets of Jos and the subsequent activation of the BetPawa Locker Room bonus to the winning team are very satisfying. The payments are real and fast. This is more like motivating teams to put in their best in playing fairly.
“We appreciate BetPawa for doing this and we hope to see more collaborations and sponsorship as we strive to make the NNL a championship of class,” he said.
