Badoer’s Super League plans get backing
A proposal by Kenyan Premier League side Wazito FC owner Ricardo Badoer to have 10 teams from East Africa compete in a super league-style competition have received backing from a section of Western Kenya football stakeholders.
Vihiga Queens coach Alex Alumira supports the move, terming it good for an investor seeking a platform to market his business empire.
“Football is all about money, the league, with good sponsorship will attract quality players and hence remain very competitive; something that brings passion and entertainment for the fans,” said Alumira.
“It will exert more pressure on local leagues to put in place right structures in order to attract more sponsorship for the them to remain relevant.
Football is money and just like the lucrative UEFA Champions League, every player will strive go where big money is,” he added.
“This is something that has been mooted and discussed even by the richest clubs in Europe with intentions of coming up with a form of a super league, so this is the best idea if the right structures will be put in place,” said Alumira.
Good structures
The proposal also received endorsement from Kakamega Homeboyz team manager Boniface Imbenzi who said football is all about sponsorships and good structures.
“Our administrators are always playing a lot of public relations, promising many things that are never implemented.
I think we need to improve this if we dream of developing football in the country.
Our league has made some steps backward after the withdrawal of sponsors and we can’t match the other regional leagues who are well organised with good finances,” said Imbenzi.
“If Badoer will borrow a leaf from former Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye who did great work to improve soccer standards in the region, then we can expect something good.
However, we need to strengthen our leagues first,” he added. But former Kenyan international Nick Yakhama opposes the move, calling on Badoer to support Cecafa instead as it already has 12 teams and established structures.
The Wazito owner has revealed that measures for the regional event are at an advanced stage, having finalised registration of the company and was working on the logo.
