US sports apparel giant Nike is in talks with China's beleaguered Super League (CSL) over a potential $200 million sponsorship deal that could cover the coming decade, state press said yesterday.

Nike has basically agreed to a $15 million deal that will provide 12 league teams $732,000 each in equipment and apparel and $220,000 in cash for the 2009 season, the Beijing Times said.

Remaining funds would go to the league.

An extended agreement calls for a 15 percent annual increase, with the apparel contract to eventually cover all 16 league teams, it said.

If a final deal is reached, Nike could be providing $30 million a year by 2018, with the cumulative sponsorship fee reaching $200 million over 10 years, it said.

No details were given on when a deal was to be signed. The 2009 season begins on March 21.

Nike China was unavailable for comment yesterday.

China's professional league has been beset with problems ranging from corruption to match-fixing that has badly tarnished its image and resulted in low attendance.

League play was so dismal that state broadcaster CCTV stopped airing matches during the final rounds of 2008 play, but will reportedly resume broadcasting during the upcoming campaign.

Due to illegal gambling, match-fixing and poor play in the inagural season of the Super League in 2004-05, German electronics giant Siemens ended its multi-million dollar title sponsorship of the league the following year.

The league's main backer remains southern China's state-owned beer-maker Kingway Brewery.

(Agencies via China Daily February 16, 2009)