FKF unveils Sh1.2 billion KPL sponsorship deal

In what is seen as a major milestone and boost for Kenyan football, Football Kenya Federation has today unveiled a Sh1.2 billion sponsorship deal with a Nigerian gaming firm that will go towards sponsoring the Kenyan Premier League and the Women League.

While making the announcement on Thursday at the federation’s headquarters in Kasarani, Nairobi, FKF chief Nick Mwendwa said the five-year deal takes effect at the beginning of the 2020/2021 season primed to start in September, under the natural order of things. It could however begin late thanks to the Covid- 19 pandemic.

Under the arrangement, there will be an increase of  5% in  year two of the contract and a 10 percent increase in year three.

All the 18 clubs in the top-tier will thus receive Sh8 million per season from the windfall.

Mwendwa was however quick to note that the running of the clubs will remain under the armpits of the clubs meaning they’ll have to shoulder the extra financial burden that comes with the running the outfits.

“We will make sure that clubs do not infringe on the rights of the deal. We will give them freedom to do what they want even if they get a betting firm as their sponsor,” said Mwendwa.

“We are targeting a tune of about Sh8-10m for the winner of the league but it is not only the winner that we are looking after. We are also thinking about all the clubs and the national team,” he added.

“We want to get to Sh5 billion and we think we will be one of the biggest leagues in Africa,” he said.

The management of the top-tier division will however revert to FKF, according to Mwendwa; following the expiry of the agreement they had with Kenyan Premier League Limited to manage the top division.

FKF and the league managing body have had a frosty relationship; failing to agree even on the most basic of things and Mwendwa made it categorical that upon the expiry of the contract they had at the end of August this year he would not extend the license.

And perhaps as measures to take the game to a wider audience, Mwendwa said that all the league’s games beginning next term will be available on digital platform. He however did not explain how this will be done.