NATIONAL First Division clubs should ready themselves for a huge early Christmas gift.
Sowetan can reveal that a leading telecoms company is in line to take over as the official sponsors of the second tier of South African professional soccer.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage between the Premier Soccer League and officials of the company in question, with an announcement imminent.
The negotiations are going ahead despite threats by NFD clubs to continue boycotting league matches until their "demands" are met by the National Soccer League. The PSL executive committee, led by chairman Irvin Khoza, has made it clear it is working tirelessly to ensure NFD gets sponsorship to ease the financial pressure on club owners.
"Expect a major announcement very soon with regard to the NFD sponsorship," said a source who is familiar with the developments.
While NFD clubs remain adamant that they will continue boycotting matches, the PSL has urged them to honour fixtures.
A letter has been sent to all clubs reminding them to adhere to the constitution, rules of the league and compliance manual. Club chairmen have been requested to ensure their administrators meet playing commitments so that the 2012/2013 league season campaign gets under way.
After an agreement reached at a meeting on August 30, Khoza made a commitment to NFD clubs to present their letter to the PSL executive committee on September 27.
The agreement was that NFD clubs would get R115-million from the PSL Solidarity Fund to help them run the division as a stand-alone league.
NFD clubs remained unhappy.
Sponsor steps in to save NFD
NATIONAL First Division clubs should ready themselves for a huge early Christmas gift.
Sowetan can reveal that a leading telecoms company is in line to take over as the official sponsors of the second tier of South African professional soccer.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage between the Premier Soccer League and officials of the company in question, with an announcement imminent.
The negotiations are going ahead despite threats by NFD clubs to continue boycotting league matches until their "demands" are met by the National Soccer League. The PSL executive committee, led by chairman Irvin Khoza, has made it clear it is working tirelessly to ensure NFD gets sponsorship to ease the financial pressure on club owners.
"Expect a major announcement very soon with regard to the NFD sponsorship," said a source who is familiar with the developments.
While NFD clubs remain adamant that they will continue boycotting matches, the PSL has urged them to honour fixtures.
A letter has been sent to all clubs reminding them to adhere to the constitution, rules of the league and compliance manual. Club chairmen have been requested to ensure their administrators meet playing commitments so that the 2012/2013 league season campaign gets under way.
After an agreement reached at a meeting on August 30, Khoza made a commitment to NFD clubs to present their letter to the PSL executive committee on September 27.
The agreement was that NFD clubs would get R115-million from the PSL Solidarity Fund to help them run the division as a stand-alone league.
NFD clubs remained unhappy.