Former FKF president Nyamweya pleads with Government to help KPL

Former FKF President Sam Nyamweya. [Jonah Onyango]

Former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya has appealed to the government through the Sports Fund, to come to the rescue of the cash-strapped Kenyan Premier League.

The topflight league is staring at a financial crisis ahead of the 2019-2020 season that kicks off on Friday following the withdrawal of title sponsors SportPesa.

The leading gaming firm pulled the plug on all its sports sponsorships including football (FKF, KPL, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards) in the country following a prolonged tax dispute with the government.

Even though the league’s CEO Jack Oguda had assured that the new season will go on as planned, Nyamweya feels the exit of SportPesa will have severe consequences on the game.

“A sad state of affairs is emerging in our top flight league. The Kenyan Premier League faces dire straits due to the lack of corporate sponsorship,” said Nyamweya.

“Clubs in the league are threatened with total collapse in the coming days due to lack of funding,” wrote Nyamweya in a statement.

“We have to live to the reality that should our leagues collapse, the ripple effect on the national team will be serious.”

“The KPL with 18 clubs employs almost 800 footballers, technical staff and other employees. The number of dependents from these are in their thousands.”

“I appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government to urgently come to the rescue of the leagues by sourcing for finances from the Sports Fund as a stop-gap measure.”