Tanzanian pay television company Azam TV has pumped $2.35m to sponsor the Rwanda Premier League for five years.

The league will be named Azam Rwanda Premier League after signing with Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) a multi-million deal with sponsorship and broadcasting rights package on Monday afternoon at the federation headquarters.

The first year Azam will provide $350,000 and will increase the amount to $500,000 in the following four years.

FERWAFA president Vincent de Gaulle Nzamwita signed on behalf of the football governing body while Azam Media Chief Executive Officer, Rhys Torrington, signed on behalf of Azam TV.

Torrington said, "It is important for your football and for us. I don’t know how many people know Azam but we believe this is the time to be known.”

"Associating with Rwanda’s football will definitely help us penetrate into the ever growing demand for TV entertainment in Rwanda,” added Torrington.

Torrington added that they are happy to get into a relationship with Rwandan football. He said, "This is an important day in the history of Rwanda’s football. We are committed to supporting football development in this country.”

Nzamwita said, "We are excited after reaching an agreement with Azam TV to sponsor the Rwandan league. We believe that their support will leave an improvement to the welfare of our clubs thus improving the standard of the game.”

"Rwanda football has potential to excel all around and together with Azam TV, we want to ensure that this mission is achieved,” Nzamwita added. Azam TV already has rights to broadcast the leagues in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.

The 16 teams that play in the Azam Rwanda Premier League that will benefit from this deal include APR, Rayon Sports, SC Kiyovu, AS Kigali, Musanze, Marines, Gicumbi, Sunrise, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Espoir, Police FC, Amagaju and Mukura Victory Sport. Two more teams will be confirmed at the upcoming FERWAFA General Assembly scheduled for August 29-30.

With the new sponsorship, Azam TV is the official broadcast partner of FERWAFA and the league shall thus be called the Azam Rwanda Premier League that starts on September 18.