Team Nigeria flag football player Remilekun Bello has praised the Showtime Flag Football League for creating new opportunities for athletes competing in Nigeria, describing the competition as a major development for the sport.
Bello, who also plays wide receiver for Abia Warriors, said the league has provided players with a platform to compete at a higher level while improving their access to contracts, better welfare and professional opportunities.
The two-time Showtime champion highlighted the league’s contract structure as one of its most important features. According to Bello, players are now able to have a greater say in negotiations surrounding their earnings and welfare.
He said the arrangement allows athletes to discuss their expectations directly with teams and reach agreements that work for both parties.
Bello also believes improved welfare has changed the mindset of players, giving them additional motivation to perform because there is now greater recognition of what they contribute to the competition.
The Abia Warriors star enters Season XV as one of the established names in the league. He previously helped his side win consecutive Showtime championships before Lagos Knights ended their reign by claiming the Season XIV title.
The new campaign comes with increased financial incentives, with a total reward commitment of ₦60,000,000. The Showtime Bowl champions will receive ₦15,000,000, while the runners-up will collect ₦6,000,000. The regular-season champions are set to receive ₦5,000,000, with another ₦4,000,000 allocated to the 5v5 Cup winners.
Season XV officially began on September 20, with the league expanding its calendar to include 18 regular-season games alongside the new 5v5 Coed Cup. The campaign will eventually lead to Showtime Bowl XV in May 2027.
Bello also credited the organisers for the steady development of the competition, noting that the rising standard of the league is giving players a stronger environment in which to develop their abilities.
With flag football continuing to grow in Nigeria and gaining wider international attention ahead of its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, leagues such as Showtime are providing another competitive pathway for local athletes.
For Bello, the priority is to see that progress continue, with players benefiting both from the competition itself and from the professional opportunities created around it.
