Nakumatt FC not on sale- Wesonga

Nakumatt FC has refuted claims that the club is on sale, despite conceding they are facing serious financial challenges which could finally force such a move.

With the 2018 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) just a fortnight away, the club has not secured a new sponsor.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, club’s Secretary General Albert Wesonga attributed the club’s financial troubles to the closure of several outlets of the Nakumatt Holdings in the country.

“Those who are saying the team is on sale are not factual. Nakumatt is not on sale but we may consider the idea if we get a serious buyer. Our main sponsor Nakumatt Holdings lowered her business hence making it very difficult for them to handle our payments.

“Currently we are in talks with different sponsors who are willing to chip in and rescue our team financially. We are also in talks with people who have shown interest in buying the team to see whether they will hit the target,” said Wesonga.

The club is already feeling the heat, with a number of first team members of last season ditching them to join rival teams.

“Our 15 players have left the team after their contracts ran out. As management, we had no option but to let them go because we could not afford their upkeep.

“Nakumatt Holdings has not withdrawn their support completely; they reduced the sponsorship to a certain percent. However, it is too little to sustain our previous budget,” added Wesonga.

Wesonga in the same vein confirmed the club owes players only a one month-salary and not five months as earlier reports had indicated.

With the prevailing condition, Nakumatt will have an uphill task in the league, where they finished 15th on with 39 points in 2017.