FKF president Nick Mwendwa oozes confidence
Webster Nyandika and Amos Abuga
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa yesterday poured cold water on a perceived ‘super alliance’ by a section of presidential aspirants ahead of the much awaited polls, as he announced a whopping Sh 1.2 billion sponsorship deal by a Nigerian betting firm Betking.
Although the quartet: Nicholas Musonye, Twaha Mbarak, Lodvick Aduda and Sammy Sholei refuted claims of intending to form an alliance to face the current boss in the elections, but had only come together to jointly call for a Normalisation Committee to oversee the polls, Mwendwa said: “I cant lose the elections.
Let even 12 of them come together, it will be easy for me, because the moment I beat their flag bearer, I would have swept all of them at once.”
Mwendwa was speaking during the unveiling of the new sponsor, the biggest sponsorship in the history of Kenyan football.
The deal which has excited the local teams taking part in the top flight league, will last for five years and according to Mwendwa, each of the 18 teams that will be taking part in the league is expected to pocket annual grants worth Sh 8 million from the package.
Mwendwa said the the package would also go towards organising an annual awards gala to feat league performers and offer league winners cash prices.
“This is a milestone to the country’s football. It’s not about Nick Mwendwa, but about developing football in the country even when I will not be there,” Mwendwa said as he ruled out conflict between the league’s title sponsor and other betting firms sponsoring teams in the league like Betika, Betway, Betsafe and Mozzartbet.
He added: “It is just a start. We target Sh 20 million grants for each team in the top league, so that the teams can operate even without individual sponsorships.”
Mwendwa said the top flight league which will from September 22 be operated by FKF Premier League and not the usual Kenyan Premier League (KPL), then it would be rebranded to Betking Premier League.
“KPL contract expires on September 21, since we expect the new season to start in October after getting the green light from the government, by the time the league will be resuming it will be called Betking Premier League,” he said.
