MONEY MATTERS: Clubs urge KPL to increase grant if they are to compete effectively

Gor Mahia's Dan Sserunkuma (left) celebrates his goal with teammates Kevin Omondi and Eric Ochieng’ against Thika United during their KPL match at Thika Municipal Stadium. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO]

Kenyan football clubs are suffering an acute financial problem, which officials say could have contributed to Gor Mahia’s early exit from the Cecafa Kagame Cup.

Gor exited the annual regional clubs competition in Rwanda without winning a single match, which has largely been blamed on the quality of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

But a Gor Mahia official introduced the financial twist when he said “poor funding is another problem that teams have to deal with".

The clubs receive Sh6 million from KPL as annual grants and those who do not have a sponsor like Gor Mahia have to struggle to plug the deficit.

Clubs spend a minimum of about Sh20 million in a season, making the KPL grant too little to be of much help.

Gor Mahia Deputy Secretary General Ronald Ngala has admitted that they have a huge budget deficit, which makes it impossible for the team to do well in international competitions.

“Our monthly budget is about Sh4 million yet we receive just Sh500,000 as grant from KPL. Between officials, we have to raise the balance of Sh3.5 million, which is not easy.

“It would have been better if the grants were increased and KPL should also considers raising the prize money to about Sh4 million and give clubs that qualify for continental games another Sh2 million.

“As it is, we felt abandoned by KPL when we travelled to Rwanda,” said Ngala.

Ngala dismissed assertions by Chemelil Sugar coach Mike Mururi that the club’s early exit was self-inflicted as Gor rely on referees to win KPL matches.

“It takes a lot to prepare for a regional tournament like the one we have just been to in Rwanda. Having adequate funding is a key aspect of it. Gor has complained about refereeing in the KPL and so any claims that we are favoured do not hold water,” he added.

Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa also admitted that the Sh6 million grant from KPL was inadequate.

“Our club uses it mostly to pay allowances. However, we understand that some of the money has to go to other costs related to running KPL, which are equally important,” he said.

Nairobi City Stars chairman, Peter Jabuya, whose club also does not have a sponsor, said only an additional sponsor can help increase grants to clubs.

Jabuya is a member of the KPL finance committee.

He revealed that at the moment, clubs receive 59 per cent of the total money submitted by sponsors SuperSport and East African Breweries Limited.

This figure translates to Sh159 million while another approximately Sh41 million goes to management.

“At the moment, clubs are getting the lion’s share of the money from our sponsors. There are plans to increase the allocation. One of the plans we have is to acquire our own offices so that we stop paying rent and have more in the kitty for clubs,” he said.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Sam Nyamweya is, however, of the view that clubs ought to be paid 80 per cent of the total sponsorship money and only 20 per cent should be used on administration.