Kenyan Premier League set to benefit from Spanish expertise
Football
By
Robin Toskin
| Jul 21, 2017
League President Javier Tebas Medrano speaks on his vision for the Kenyan game.
Kenyans are surprised at how La Liga have adopted Kenyan Premier League as a partner in Africa. It is almost unbelievable. What is the motivation?
La Liga’s aim is to support not only the development of the football industry in Spain/Europe, but worldwide.
The KPL is a key player in Africa and La Liga is delighted to collaborate with this organisation in making a step forward towards a high-level competition that hopefully will help to develop African football as a whole. Our objective is to assist the Kenyan Premier League in improving its management and to contribute to the professionalisation of sports in the country.
Football development is a long, tedious and expensive process. What are the quick gains and lessons SportPesa Kenyan Premier League can learn from La Liga?
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Security and integrity come first when seeking the sustainable growth of football in Kenya. These are two strategic issues for every league in the world but La Liga will be also collaborating with KPL on technical, financial and institutional exchange of information.
What is the partnership like? We have already seen THE SportPesa All Star team in Spain. Is that all?
This All Star team visit is the result of the recent signing of the MoU, but La Liga and KPL will be also work closely on many other matters like marketing, club management, match analysis, players' health, social community projects, match fixing and audiovisual piracy among others.
The SportPesa Premier League has just got back on TV (Free to Air). How important is this development in view of La Liga'S partnership with Kenya?
This is a relevant achievement for KPL bearing in mind all the TV distribution obstacles that the league has been facing over the past months. La Liga is extremely glad to see how Kenyans can enjoy their local matches at home again.
As La Liga President, where would you like to see THE Kenyan League in, say, three years?
Hopefully by 2020, we will be able to see an even more competitive, efficient and professional KPL. In addition, as a result of our collaboration we would help KPL to develop youth players programmes so it would be great to welcome more Kenyan players to Europe in the coming years.
Do you think, Africa should look up to La Liga for leadership, technical help and also entertainment?
We are proud of having fans all around the globe. We have a lot to learn from African leagues and we also hope to be able to transmit to them all the good practices that have worked in Spain.