Nigeria: NPL to Announce Title Sponsor Next Week – Babalola

David Ngobua

14 July 2011

Following ongoing discussions with prospective sponsors of the Nigeria Premier League, the acting Executive Secretary of NPL, Mr. Tunji Babalola has hinted that from next week, the league body would announce a title sponsor.

A two day meeting between the management of the 20 clubs, the Nigeria Premier League board and the corporate organizations which have indicated interest in sponsoring the league held in Abuja but was adjourned to next week for more consultations.

Speaking to Trustsports yesterday, Babalola said the organizations which include the immediate past sponsor of the league, Globacom, MTN and Supersport are in the running for the right to sponsor the league.

He said mutual discussions were had and barring unforeseen circumstances, the league board will by next week come out with the name of the organization that would be handed the title right.

Babalola said going by the present financial position of the league board, it will just be proper to settle for the best out of the contenders.

He said the choice of a title sponsorship is going to be based on fairness and absolute transparency as every interested organization will be given equal chances of winning the bid.

“Yes, the meeting centered on the issue of title sponsor. It has been adjourned but I can confirm to you that by next week, the Nigeria Premier League board would come out with the name of the preferred bidder for the title right.

“At the moment, the board is looking at Globacom, MTN and Supersport. Among these interested organizations, a title sponsor would be picked. The meeting had to be adjourned because there was need for more consultations.

“The aim is to get the best for the league without compromising transparency and fairness. It is going to be an open thing. If we are to overcome some of our present challenges, we need to settle for the most credible sponsor”.

Babalola maintained that running the league without a title sponsor has not been easy and the prospect of getting a sponsor is indeed motivating.

“We need a title sponsor because playing the league without a title sponsor has not been easy”, he stated.

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