AFC Leopards, Zuku television contract row

Oscar (left) and Joe Kadenge at a recent KPL match. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO]

By GILBERT WANDERA

Football chiefs on Friday told AFC Leopards and Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to resolve the Zuku television row through the right channel.

FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya urged the parties to desist from solving the dispute through the media “but use established channels.”

AFC vice chairman Walter Onyino defended a move by the club to sign a deal with Zuku Sports to bring on air Kenya’s first sports television station.

Onyino said the club will not terminate the deal even at the risk of being suspended from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL). KPL told Leopards to terminate the contract or be suspended.

“Our duty is to prtotect contractual obligation of all parties and also to protect the integrity of the game,” said Nyamweya in a statement.

“We call for calm as we peruse the contractual obligations between the club and its broadcast partners,” he said.

“The deal we have with Zuku does not infringe on the the existing sponsorship arrangement between KPL and SuperSport. Our lawyers have looked at it and given it the go-ahead.

“We understand matters to do with law and cannot jeopardise the existing relationship with SuperSport. No one has pointed out any breach. It is only assumed that we have broken the law. If it is pointed out, we are ready to correct it and go on with the deal, but the question of canceling it does not arise,” said Onyino.

He also dismissed suggestions by KPL Chief Executive Officer, Jack Oguda, that the club should have consulted with them before signing the deal.

“This was purely a club affair and there was no obligation to consult with anyone, let alone the KPL. If it was anything to do with how the league is run then we could consult them,” added Onyino.