Gilbert Wandera
Kenya Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka have once again outspent the rest of the clubs in the current transfer window.
The club, which made history by winning the local title in their first appearance in top-flight football, have once again demonstrated seriousness in retaining their crown.
When they first joined the local Premier League last year, the club spent Sh2 million to buy players at the beginning of the season. Another Sh600,000 was spent to beef up the squad in mid-season.
This season, the figure has tripled to Sh6 million, especially after the club bought several foreign players to beef up their squad ahead of the CAF Champions League tournament.
The foreign-based players who have joined the Kenyan champions are Jean Koffi Afanou from Agaza de Lome, Abidemi Abass Akinyemi and Frank Gentle Harry from Global Stars of Nigeria and Tanzanian Said Idrisa Rajab.
Cost a fortune
But it is Rajab who has cost the club a fortune after his former club Mtibwa Sugar was paid Sh1.3 million for his signature.
The player himself earned Sh500,000 in signing on fee. Sofapaka beat Yanga to Rajab’s signature. The Tanzanian giants had offered Mtibwa Sugar Sh2.8 million for the player, who opted to join the Kenyan champions instead. The Nigerian duo cost Sofapaka more than Sh1 million between the two of them.
Sofapaka also paid out close to Sh100,000 to former champions Mathare United to buy out the contracts of defence king-pin Edgar Ochieng’ and mid-fielder Kevin Ochieng’.
Half A Season
The deal also saw Mathare United acquire the services of Jacob Keli, who was with Sofapaka for a half a season after leaving Kenya Commercial Bank.
Nairobi City Stars received Sh200,000 for striker Collins Tiego, who returns to Sofapaka after half a season with the Kawangware-based side.
Sofapaka players will also be the highest paid once again this season as the lowest-paid member of the team takes home Sh30,000 and the highest Sh70,000.
According to the club president, Elly Kalekwa, they found it necessary to spend huge amounts of money — according to local standards —to enable them retain the title and also do well at the continental level.
"Our goal is to win the league for the next three seasons and for that, we need to sign the kind of players who will enable us do just that. We also believe in taking good care of our players to encourage them to produce the desired results," he said.
He added: "We will be reviewing the salaries of our players every three months. Those found to be performing would earn more, while those whose form is not satisfactory will have a pay cut. We want to keep the competitive spirit in the team."
Sofapaka had their kitty boosted last year when they received Sh12 million sponsorship deal from East Africa Portland Cement. Surprisingly, the club’s closest competitors have not spent significantly in the transfer window even as they hope to topple Sofapaka from the top.
Mathare United, who finished runners-up last season, have spent Sh50,000 for the signatures of ten new players coming into the club this year.
Most of the club’s signings are players who were already out of contract and were obligated to pay only the required Sh5,000 per player transfer fee.
The club recently signed a Sh20 million-sponsorship deal with Kenya Data Networks after going through a lean period last season. The new sponsorship will enable them pay competitive salaries to their players and according to club chairman, Bob Munro, this will help them hang on to their best players.
