MATHARE TO CLAIM SH10M FROM KPL: Munro expects compensation after Sunday’s incident

Mathare United chairman Bob Munro has resigned from all committees of the Kenyan Premier League on 11-11-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Mathare United chairman Bob Munro says they will lay a claim of Sh10million with the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) after the league company removed their sponsors banners from the stadium on Sunday.

Munro also revealed that a contract between KPL and betting firm Sportpesa does not bar clubs from signing a sponsorship with other betting companies.

Mathare United have signed a deal with Betway, but this seems not to have gone down well with the KPL who ordered for the removal of their banners before Sunday’s match against Posta Rangers at Nyayo Stadium.

“I expect to be compensated for the damage to the tune of Sh10million over what happened on Sunday. It was unfair and unjustified and has put in jeopardy our deal with Betway,” said Munro.

He added:”Only two people knew about the contract between SportPesa and KPL because it was never brought to the governing council before it was signed. When I asked for it, it was very clear, that the exclusivity granted to the betting firm does not extend to clubs.”

He said the KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier and Chief Executive Officer Jack Oguda signed the deal on behalf of KPL.
Munro said he has asked the KPL to call for a governing council meeting where he says he will demand for a review of all the commercial rights between the league company and SportPesa.

“This should never be allowed to happen again. This is not about KPL and Mathare United but about the well-being of the other 14 teams,” he said.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa said it is important to understand what the contract between KPL and SportPesa entails and complained that in the past such agreements have been shrouded in secrecy.

“The big issue is to understand what rights a sponsor has. We need to understand where the line is drawn if you are a title sponsor and why one sponsor is claiming all that space.

“There are rights that belong to the league and those that belong to clubs and that is why SportPesa are sponsoring the KPL, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards separately.

“Clubs must have a source of revenue and these are the things we have been talking about. In the past some of the details have been shrouded in secrecy and some people have been happy with it. However, it is now coming back to bite some of them. Whatever we do we should ensure it is for prosperity and not just short term gains,” he said.

SportPesa Chief Marketing Officer Kester Shimonyo declined to comment: “Everything is captured in the contract and I cannot remember exactly what it says because I am out of the office at the moment,” he said.