By Ime Bassey

After a legal battle over who was the rightful sponsor for the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, the NPL Board headed by Rumson Baribote, has gone back MTN Nigeria Communications Limited as sponsor of the league with effect from January.

The title sponsorship which is for the next four years comes with a total package of N550 million, according to the acting Executive Secretary of the board, Tunji Babalola who said that the new season will now commence January 7 next year.

He added that the traditional pre-season Super Four competition has been cancelled to allow clubs prepare well enough for the season.

“The board has signed with Total Promotion which has MTN as its client to pay N550 million for the title Sponsorship of the League which would last for four years. The deal will see MTN increasing the money by 10 percent yearly.

“Also, the league will resume January 7 making it impossible to have the traditional pre-season Super Four. The league will not be abridged but normal as we hope to keep to the time frame we have,” Babalola said.