NPL to unveil title sponsor this month

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) could in a matter of days reveal the identity of the title sponsor for the league, Naijaligue.blogspot.com understands.

It has been revealed that discussions have been ongoing between the representatives of the potential sponsor and the leadership of the Premier League.

A source in the NPL hinted that the loose ends of the deal is being tied to ensure that no grey areas are left unattended to before the package is officially unveiled to the press and the public.

The official disclosed that the deal between the NPL and the prospective title sponsor should be concluded in a matter of a week and unveiled before the start of the new Premier League season, which kicks off on September 25.

“In a matter of days we will see who the sponsors become for the coming season. We are still discussing with the sponsors, and we are hoping that in the next one or two weeks everything about the deal will be concluded for us to officially name the sponsors.

“But the sponsors will be known before the league starts on September 25 because we have spoken at length and certain areas are just being agreed upon to make sure that all agreements in the deal is met,” Naijaligue.blogspot.com was informed.

There are already speculations that the NPL is into talks with a telecommunications firm on becoming the title sponsor for the Premier League.

Globacom Nigeria Limited, it will be recalled, had been sponsor for the past four seasons before there was contractual breakdown last season.

The second national carrier is alleged to owe the Premier League about N923 million of sponsorship for last season.

Bosso’s influence scares Tornadoes' chiefs

Niger Tornadoes’ chiefs are beginning to fret over the influence that their team’s head coach, Ladan Bosso, is beginning to wield since he switched from Wikki Tourists last season, Naijaligue.blogspot.com understands.

A top official of the club opened up at the weekend that it will be difficult to sack the 44-year-old as Niger Tornadoes’ head coach since he is an indigene of Niger State, who can easily walk into the State House to influence things to suit him.

Having failed to guide the Minna-based outfit to an African club competition place for next year in the immediate past season, Bosso was thought to have been primed for the exit door for not meeting the club’s target.

But somehow, the former Under-20 team coach has survived the axe of the Niger Tornadoes’ management and looks set to remain in charge of the side for the coming season.

“There are fears in the club right now about Ladan Bosso. It is going to be difficult to sack him because as an indigene that may not happen as he commands respect from certain powerful people here (in Minna).

“The performance of the team has been something of a concern for everyone especially last season when we finished seventh. Nobody is happy with that performance because we had hoped that the team will pick a continental ticket instead we finished outside of the top teams,” said the official, who spoke on anonymity.

However, it was believed that the former Wikki Tourists’ man should have been shown the exit door when Niger Tornadoes lost by a lone goal to Ocean Boys on July 3 in a rescheduled game at home, which ultimately ended the Minna side’s chase for an African place.

That loss led to the club opening an investigation into the activities of players and officials on why they lost to 2006 Premier League champion, Ocean Boys.

Last Saturday, our source hinted that Niger Tornadoes’ chiefs were unimpressed with the team’s performance in the WAFU Club Cup against Stella-Abidjan in which Eugene Salami scored the lone goal.

The Tornadoes’ official described the performance of the team against Stella-Abidjan as ordinary and fears that the club may not survive in Abidjan in a fortnight when the second leg comes up.

“It was a poor game even though we won. Stella-Abidjan were the better side. But we were very lucky to win by a lone goal because our team did not play anything. If we play like this in the second leg, I fear we may not qualify for the next round,” the official said.