Globacom Limited was yesterday commended for fulfilling its promise to sponsor an annual international seminar for stakeholders in the Globacom Premier League even as the company disclosed that it has concluded plans for an enriched television broadcast deal with partners to deliver a minimum of 114 live and 38 delayed broadcast of matches of the 2008/09 Globacom Premier League season.

Chief Segun Odegbami, Globacom's Head of Sports Sponsorship disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Globacom Premier League International Seminar at the Rock-view Hotels in Abuja and said the matches will be available on both satellite and terrestrial television through SuperSports and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) respectively.

"Globacom will continue to partner with all relevant stake-holders and agencies to promote and take Nigerian football to greater heights and this season, we have been interacting with two of the broadcast rights holders with a view to ensuring that a minimum of 114 live matches are beamed to the homes of Nigerians and the international football community", stated Odegbami at the seminar with the theme "Good Corporate Governance and the Future of Football League in Africa".

He said that Globacom is delighted that the annual seminar is becoming a very important item on the international calendar, adding that "Globacom will continue to provide the platform to improve on the quality and profile of Nigerian football through capacity building programmes for all stakeholders. The Globacom Premier League International Seminar is a fulfilment of our promise to take Nigerian football to greater heights".

Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of Nigeria Premier League Board, Chief Oyuki Obaseki had commended Globacom for keeping faith with all aspects of its obligation as the title sponsor of the league. In his words, "Globacom in keeping with the contract has provided N25 million to fund the seminar and we are most grateful to them for supporting us at all times".

The first session of the day witnessed presentations by Dr. Ken Onyali-Ikpe, the Managing Director, MediaCom Ltd, Dr. Henry Nzekwu, the Managing Director of CSA Productions and Shehu Dikko, Marketing Consultant to the Nigeria Premier League board.

They treated the topic "Effective Marketing Strategies for Premier League Clubs" with veteran Sports Journalist, Paul Bassey as moderator. The seminar continues today with presentations on football medicine and nutrition and training sessions for groundsmen.