Fans will soon be allowed to stadium – Mwendwa
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League will resume on September 25, its president Nick Mwendwa announced yesterday.
Mwendwa said the national soccer body is in advanced talks with a number of would- be potential title sponsors.
The 2020/2021 season ended unceremoniously after former sponsor, betting firm BetKing, officially announced the end of their partnership with FKF to sponsor the top tier Premier League to a tune Sh1.2bn and Sh500mn for Division One League, barely a year after the marriage was announced.
Mwendwa spoke during the league’s end of season Gala awards where he stated that a new deal to signal the start of a new partner- ship would be announced soon.
“I want to thank BetKing for coming on- board and investing in Kenyan football, what they did was special. However, that is now history, we are in the process of talking with would be sponsors, with the hope that a deal will be signed soon,” said Mwendwa.
Mwendwa says his desire is to see clubs and players benefiting a lot from such sponsorship.
“We want the teams and players to benefit, having increased prize money for winning teams as well as factoring in women football in all the deals that we make with sponsors,” he said.
Mwendwa is also optimistic football fans will soon be allowed back to the stadium after productive meetings with the ministry of sports.
“Of course, even with expected return of fans to stadiums, Covid-19 prevention measures will have to be put in place. We could start off with a reduced number of fans, while assessing the situation and exploring options for full fan attendance.
Those are ideas we have shared with government officials,” he said.
He added: “We have vaccinated all our players and officials and I believe this is a crucial step to show that we are responsible. Now players don’t have to take Covid-19 tests all the time. With more and more fans getting vaccinated, I don’t think it is far to keep fans away from the action. The season that ended was tough for everyone more so the clubs, we are optimistic the issue will be handled soon.”
