Which way KPL?League set for kick-off but no title and broadcast sponsors in sight

With barely ten-days left to the start of the 2018 Kenyan Premier League, CEO Jack Oguda says they are yet to find a title and broadcast partner for the new season.

The league is scheduled to kick-off on February 3 with the traditional curtain raiser; the Super Cup clash which will this time pit GOtv-Shield champions AFC Leopards against league holders Gor Mahia.

This tantalizing clash is set for this Sunday at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru but Oguda says there is no end in sight for a broadcast partner even as the eagerly awaited action begins.

State broadcaster KBC is widely expected to beam the weekend match.

Citizen Digital however understands that KPL has already entered into a partnership with a Spanish based production firm to produce the matches, but sourcing for the broadcast partner is yet to bear fruit, with a host of local television stations reportedly interested in the deal.

 “We are looking for a free- to- air channel for the Super Cup, like the national broadcaster but we are still holding meeting with other broadcasters  to see if they can air it on Sunday,” Said Oguda

Oguda said the league will kick-off as scheduled despite the decision by title sponsors, a leading game firm, to terminate their sponsorship.

The betting company made good their threat to cancel all local sports sponsorship following the implementation of the 35 percent taxation law by the government.

“We are looking at the telecommunication sector, the banking sector and the gaming companies, it will take time because many companies had already planned for the New Year but we are sure will get a sponsor,” Oguda added

In March last year, the league witnessed a four-month blackout after South African broadcast sponsors SuperSport ceased to air the league matches citing breach of contract.

However, in July, KPL unveiled a Sh100 million broadcast partnership with free-to-air channel Bamba Sports which ran for six months, lapsing in December last year but the parties did not renew their terms of engagement.