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Soccer News of Saturday, 7 April 2001

Source: GNA

Premier Football League Renamed

The National Premier league previously known as ABC league has been renamed as the "Star Premier League" scheduled to kick off on Saturday April 14 at all centres.

Brigadier George Brock, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council unveiled an icon of a star, kicking a football decorated with some smaller stars against a blue and yellow background.

Mr Martin Esson Benjamin, Managing Director of Ghana Brewery in a speech read for him by his Financial Director, Mr Francis Koranteng, said the total sponsorship for year is about 800 million cedis, which caters for the premier league, FA Cup and the Champion of Champions.

This amount, he said, is separate from what has been given to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) as title sponsorship for the three championships.

The company has also commissioned a production house to ensure live TV coverage of some selected matches while the rest would be recorded and telecast at a later date.

As way of ensuring that clubs to do not lose revenue, the company in collaboration with Ghana Television would exclude a region from where a match is being telecast live from reception to ensure that fans patronize it.

Mr Esson Benjamin said jingles for radio and television to advertise the game are being developed and added that the company would work closely with the media to sustain the interest in the game.

"GBL would also in conjunction with the Sports Writers Association (SWAG) reintroduce the 'Star match of the month award' for deserving teams in every month, he said.

"Also to ensure the inner perimeters of the various stadia are to be properly structured and merchandising done to the status of the brand and the Star brand and the game", he added.

The Managing Director said various consumer promotions would be undertaken to entertain as well as reward loyal football fans in the country.

He expressed the hope that GBL and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) will soon meet to address other outstanding issues to ensure that the sponsorship becomes mutually beneficial and meet all expectations.