James Waindi and Charles Thuku
Kenyan Premier League (KPL) remains in a quandary over lack of sponsors for the top-tier league only five days before the official kick-off of the 2019/2020 season.
KPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Oguda yesterday revealed to People Daily Sport that the federation had approached up to 20 prospective sponsors and expressed regret that none of them had given positive feedback as of yesterday.
“We are in dilemma and have gone round with begging bowls but there is no response. All I can say is that the situation is dire after the league’s main sponsor SportPesa withdrew but we have not given up, we are optimistic of finding another facilitator even if it means outside sports betting,” said Oguda.
He reckoned that while the league commence as planned on August 30, the biggest challenge will come in the form of payment of referees and the monthly grants of Sh300,000 to each participating team. “These are the biggest challenges KPL is facing moving forward and I hope corporate entities out there will come to our rescue in the shortest time possible,” said Oguda.
He, however, said that as a stop-gap measure to address the issue of grants, KPL is contemplating petitioning clubs to encourage them to dole out subsidies to their players while a sponsor is being sought.
“Most of the club’s are self-sustaining and ought to understand what is bedevilling KPL and cater for the upkeep of the players since the league has to begin anyway with or without a sponsor.
Such is the sad situation we are in,” said Oguda while coming short of suggesting what community clubs which have no funds should do in the face of the crisis. Okuda's appeal comes in the wake of the sponsorship withdrawal by giant betting platform SportPesa following a protracted dispute with the government over taxes.
The stand-off between Government and SportPesa saw the latter cancel all sports sponsorships in the country, which is bound to affect community clubs like AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia as well as the operations of KPL.
The acute financial crisis by KPL comes even as former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya made an impassioned appeal to the government through the Sports Fund to bail out the league organizer.
“The withdrawal of KPL title sponsors SportPesa and other gaming entities will invite severe implications in the game including rendering people who depend on football jobless,” said Nyamweya.
“KPL has 18 clubs which employs hundreds of footballers who eke out a living in the game which is why the government should be steadfast in finding a solution instead of playing hardball in the tax dispute,” said Nyamweya.
