KPL deal with La Liga as fishy as its unveiling

KPL LA LIGA PARTNERSHIP La Liga president Javier Tebas present ball to Kenyan Premier League chairman Ambrose Rachier when the La Liga boss paid a courtesy call to Kenyan Premier League offices in Nairobi, Kenya on May 10, 2017. [Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com]

Last week grinning La Liga President Javier Tebas Medrano was in Kenya to sign a partnership deal with the Kenyan Premier League. Over samosas and sausages at the Sarova Stanley Hotel, he spoke a lot of Spanish, claiming the deal would be the beginning of exciting times for Kenyan football, and La Liga as well.

I didn’t, and still don’t, believe what they said. To begin with, I don’t believe a La Liga president can fly all the way from Madrid to come sign some partnership deal in Nairobi. See? This is the president of the world’s most entertaining football league.

You can argue that out till the cows come home, but facts are stubborn; you will still be embroiled in that debate of Messi or Ronaldo at some point in your football frenzy life.

Why does it look as if Mr Medrano was on holiday in Mombasa then KPL heard he was sunbathing somewhere within 254 and took advantage? Opportunity favours the prepared.

What is so good in the Kenyan Premier League for La Liga to borrow?

The press conference in which the deal was unveiled was wanting in many aspects. To begin with, and a hawk-eyed journalist raised this, the pronounced absence of FKF from the room spoke volumes. The KPL chairman, wise old Ambrose Rachier, glossed over this by indicating that the deal had the blessings of the federation and that the officials (Nick Mwendwa and Co) were a way in Bahamas for the FIFA Congress.

The federation cannot be in Bahamas. Representation at football functions does not begin and end with Nick Mwendwa. FKF, if they truly endorsed the KPL La Liga deal, could not get anyone from its ranks to represent it?

If truly we have a deal between KPL and La Liga, then it is beyond what was presented to the sausage-hungry press at Sarova Stanley last week. It seems it is known only to Rachier, his KPL inner circle, and the La Liga president. 

 

Kageni is a commentator on sporting issues. [email protected]