Five richest football clubs in Kenya

Money and the football clubs: Kenya’s richest five

By GILBERT WANDERA

In April this year, Forbes magazine listed Spanish giants Real Madrid as the richest club in the world. According to the magazine, the club was then worth an estimated Sh284 bilion.

In coming tops this year, Madrid eclipsed English champions Manchester United who enjoyed the status of the world’s richest club for nine years in a row.

United came second with a net worth of Sh272 billion. In the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), no independent study has ever been conducted to establish the financial health of local clubs and thus it is difficult to know exactly the richest team in Kenya.

However, after an extensive research and interviews with some club officials we unveil the top five richest clubs.

1. Gor Mahia (estimated worth Sh65 million)

Gor Mahia collects the highest amount of money in gate  Collections at an average of Sh2 million per home game, which translates to Sh30 million in a season.

The club also receives another Sh29.5 million from shirt sponsors Tuzo and own a piece of land donated by the government to develop a stadium in Embakasi that is worth Sh4 million.

 However, the status of the land remains unknown as a former politician is believed to have settled some squatters on it. Last season, Gor earned Sh2.5 million from the sale of replica jerseys.

The team has the potential of earning more than Sh10 million in sale of replica jerseys but this is not structured and has been left to unscrupulous businessmen who make a kill while the club gets nothing.

2. AFC Leopards (estimated worth Sh52 million)

In terms of revenue generated, AFC Leopards are next to arch-rivals Gor Mahia. The team has a Sh20 million per year sponsorship with Mumias Sugar Company.

In three years, the club will have been paid Sh65 million by the sugar company. The team also owns a Sh6.5 million bus which helps them cut down on transport costs significantly. Another Sh10 million is collected in gate collections while slightly more than Sh2 million is earned by the club on replica jerseys. Here also a lot of revenue is lost since most of the jerseys are sold illegally and the proceeds does not go to the club. If well structured, the club could make upwards of Sh8 million in sale of replica jerseys.

3. Sofapaka (estimated worth Sh50 million)

Among the teams taking part in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), Sofapaka have benefitted the most in players transfer fees.

Just this year, they were paid Sh4 million when Zimbabwean striker Obadiah Tarumbwa moved to South Africa.

The club was also paid another Sh4million last year when midfielder Humphrey Mieno was loaned out to Tanzanian club Azam.

The clubs enjoys a massive Sh33 million sponsorship deal from East Africa Portland Cement (EAPC) and get Sh4.2million in gate collections.

4. Tusker (estimated worth Sh45 million)

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions are funded to the tune of Sh30 million annually by East African Breweries Limited (EABL). Last year, they pocketed Sh4 million when former defender Brian Mandela was signed by South African club Santos. Another Sh1 million comes in from replica jerseys every year and another Sh1 million in gate collections.

The team was also paid television rights money totaling Sh1 million by taking part in last year’s CAF champions league.

The club receives Sh4.2 million from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) as their annual grants.

5. Thika United (estimated worth Sh20 million)

The team enjoys a modest Sh15 million sponsorship from Brookside Dairy Limited. They also receive about Sh500,000 from sale of replica jerseys annually and another Sh1 million from gate collections, Sh4 million from KPL as grants making them the fifth richest club in Kenya.