Get a sponsor or we strike, captains tell KPL

Captains of the 18 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs have given Kenyan Premier League Limited a seven-day ultimatum to look for the league title sponsor.The skippers said the lack of sponsorship is adversely affecting the lives of most players who depend entirely on the income from the game.

Nairobian has learned that the situation is so bad that some clubs have not paid their players for the last two months following the withdrawal of SportPesa as KPL title sponsor last January.

SportPesa withdrew from all sponsorship deals in the local sports, citing ‘difficult business environment’ after the government introduced a 35 percent tax on betting and gaming revenues.

But with talks between KPL and SportPesa to return to the league still dragging on, players have now jumped to the drama with threats to boycott the league matches altogether, if the situation is not arrested.

Nairobian understands that KPL turned down SportPesa’s Sh75 million offer tabled in the last meeting with the gaming giants who are said to have initiated a process to return as the league as title sponsors.

According to one of the chairmen of the clubs who attended the meeting, the deal is also being dragged down by the differences between KPL and Football Kenya Federation who are understood to be bargaining for Sh150 million.

The players’ representatives will release a common position next week if KPL doesn’t sort out the matter urgently.

“Some players have not been paid for the last two months. We cannot continue to suffer in silence. It doesn’t make sense playing, but return home with nothing.” Added another Captain.

Last weekend, Nakumatt players refused to take to the pitch in ‘empty stomachs’ in their match against Sony Sugar with players reportedly gone for two months without pay. It took the intervention of a former Harambee Stars coach, Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mule to ‘bribe the players with Sh18,000 before they took to the pitch.

"We have not been paid for as long as I can remember, most of the time players receive about Sh500 shillings to cater for their transport,” Nakumatt Coach, Anthony Mwangi lamented after Sony Sugar match.