WITH just over a month to the new league, the local football governing body (Ferwafa) is running out of time as far as getting a league sponsors is concerned.

Since June, there has been talk of Ferwafa landing a huge sponsorship deal for the coming season but there has been little response to this effect.

John Bosco Sendahangarwa, MTN Rwanda’s officer in charge of sponsorship, told Times Sport recently that the company is very much interested in local football and that negotiations are going on between Ferwafa and MTN to sponsor the national league next year.

"We are interested in local football, and I think our intentions are very evident with the Peace Cup that we have been sponsoring for the last two years.

"We are negotiating with Ferwafa to sponsor the league next year. The talks are still in infant stages but we certainly hope for a positive outcome,” Sendahangarwa was quoted saying.

Meanwhile, a top Ferwafa official confirmed that besides MTN, they are looking at other options.

"We are talking with other companies as well, so that we weigh up the best deal,” the officials told this paper but on condition of anonymity.

Ferwafa Vice President Vedaste Kayiranga remains optimistic that there will be a sponsor for the league but concedes that the deal may be finalized during the course of the league.

"We are still negotiating with a host of corporate companies including some leading banks in the country, but it is a lengthy process but one thing we are certain about is that we shall have a sponsor for the league.”Kayiranga said.

Ferwafa has been on the look out for sponsors ever since 2005/06 season when Bralirwa through their Primus brand prematurely halted their sponsorship.

This year, the giant telecommunications group upped their offer for the Peace Cup from Rwf20m to Rwf30m.

The hefty package saw clubs competing for a total prize money of Rwf23m with the winner being awardedRwf10m.
The 2009/10 league kicks off October 17.

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