NPL To Throw Sponsorship Bid Open

In a matter of days, the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) could throw open the battle ground for would-be sponsor of the top-flight division to flex financial muscles.

Naijaligue.blogspot.com understands that the Premier League is ready to hand the title sponsorship to the highest bidder as well as a corporate body that would not renege on contractual terms when a deal is signed.

The Premier League is set to advertise invitation for bids for the title sponsorship of the league in selected national newspapers in the country.

An official of the NPL, who did not want his name in print, hinted that the process of throwing open the bidding is to ensure that transparency takes place in the arrangement of getting a new league sponsor.

Already, a top telecommunications firm has verbally contacted the leadership of the Premier League on its interest in sponsoring the top tier division from next season.

“The Premier League board will be making the bidding process open to all companies interested in sponsoring the league. We are looking at the possibility of advertising in some national newspapers in the country so that these companies would know that we are serious about our own business.

“This time there will be no preferential treatment handed to any company. This approach is going to be transparent in the sense that we will only settle for the highest bidder. And if the other companies that loses out in the title bid so desire, they can play secondary roles in sponsoring other events that has to do with the Premier League,” the official disclosed.

Already, Globacom Nigeria Limited, whose contract with the Premier League expired last season, appears to have signified interest in taking up title sponsorship of the top-flight division.

But the country’s second national carrier in the telecommunications industry is yet to settle its outstanding sponsorship fee of N900 million for the immediate past season, which was the last in its four-year deal with the Premier League.