The 2012 edition of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 contest will be staged in Bayelsa after the Bayelsa state government emerged as the front runner among the states that have indicated interest to host competition.

According to information from the secretariat of the NNL talks have commenced in top gear and indications are ripe that the government of Bayelsa may have agreed to sponsor the competition, which will have all the two top clubs in the 2011/12 NNL abridged league participating.

NNL chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama, who praised the efforts of the Bayelsa state government towards the development of grassroot football disclosed that the management of the league body and the representatives of Bayelsa state government have reached sponsorship agreement for the Super 8 competition, which is expected to commence in August.

“We have commenced advanced talks with the government of Bayelsa state to hoist the 2011/12 NNL super eight which will involve all the teams that gain promotion to the elite division, having emerged top of their various divisions of the just concluded Nigeria National League, as well as the runners up. We are also looking at the August break to hold the Super 8, bearing in mind the weather condition of Bayelsa, which falls within the rain forest region of the country.”Inyama stated.

Two clubs from Bayelsa state government sponsored Bayelsa united FC and Nembe city FC, owned by the chairman of the Nigeria Premier League, (NPL), Victor Rumson Baribote were among the clubs that gained promotion to the premier league after they emerged top of their divisions at the end of the 2011/12 NNL season.

They will be joined by six other clubs, El- Kanemi warriors of Maiduguri, Nasarawa united of Lafia, Ranchers bees of Kaduna, Giwa FC of Jos, Unicem Rovers of Calabar and Abia warriors of Umuahia to compete in the newly improved super 8. A prize money will be awarded to the eventual winner of the super 8 competition, which will eventually mark the official end of 2011/12 NLL season.