Harambee Stars to renegotiate Sponsorship deal

By Steve Mkawale
The Ministry of Sports will renegotiate  the Sh110million sponsorship deal for the National Soccer team –Harambee Stars after it emerged that https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of players were being used in advertisements without them benefiting.
Sports Minister Paul Otuoma admitted before parliament yesterday that none of the national team players benefit from the contract between the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and the Harambee Stars Management Board.
According to the minister, the money from EABL is used in paying players allowances, technical staff salaries, kitting the team among other things but no direct benefits to the players.
The deal allows the beer manufacturing company to use https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of sportsmen in advertisement in all outlets including billboards.
Otuoma admitted that the issues raised by international soccer ace Denis Oliech were genuine and therefore a need to re-look into the contract.
“I will bring to the table officials of the Harambee Stars Management Board, EABL and Football Kenya Federation to try and resolve the issues that have risen as a result of the contract for the sponsorship of Harambee stars,” said the minister.
Otuoma, however, maintained the Auxerre striker was still part of the Harambee Stars squad and denied that Oliech had written to the federation reaffirming his decision to leave the team over use of his image in advertisement without his authority.
Answering a question by Eldoret South MP Peris Chepchumba, who sought to know if the ministry was aware of private companies using https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of sportsmen and women in advertisement without any financial gains to the athletes.
The legislator further sought to know what measures the ministry was putting in place to ensure that Oliech and athlete Pamela Jelimo- whose https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images were being used in advertisements- to be paid.
Otuoma said Oliech was still considered a Harambee Stars player because no official communication has been received by his office or the federation.
“We have seen from the social media and heard from people that he has withdrawn from the team but he is yet to communicate,” said the minister.
He said the contract between EABL and the Harambee Stars management board was silent about benefits to individual players.
“The team enjoys financial gains from EABL. The contract clearly states the responsibilities of the company and the team’s obligations. The Money received from EABL is used in paying salaries and allowances for players and the technical team,” said Otuoma.
Members put the minister to task on what measures the ministry had put in place to address exploitation of sportsmen and women by companies sponsoring sports in the country.
Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo-Mabona said the minister should think of engaging the office of the Attorney General to offer legal advice to sportsmen seeking to enter into sponsorship deals with private companies.
Otuoma said a draft legislation address issues about sponsorship deals for sportsmen and women were in the pipeline.
“The Bill is with the Attorney General and will be tabled before the House soon. Some of the perennial problems will be addressed via the legislation,” said the minister.