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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Leopards seek more time to resolve Zuku deal

Football

By By GILBERT WANDERA | Jun 25, 2013

By GILBERT WANDERA

AFC Leopards chairman Alex ole Magelo and Allan Kasavuli, who is aspiring for the club’s top post, have asked Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to give the team more time to resolve a television deal with Zuku Sports even as it emerged that a top official of the club had quit over the same.

Leopards had until yesterday to terminate their association with Zuku or risk being suspended from the league.

“We need more time to consult stakeholders before we can make such a decision and I have summoned them to a meeting this morning to deliberate on how best to do it,” said Magelo.

Though he is a signatory to the club’s financial accounts, Magelo said he was not aware of the Zuku deal. However, he confirmed that he cannot cancel it on his own without the input of others.

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“I was not part of this deal and neither was the Secretary General or treasurer who are required to be involved in such matters. However, we cannot allow the club to be suspended but must do everything possible to appease KPL,” he added.

Kasavuli on his part said they will resolve the issue once they are voted into office during Saturday polls.

“I want to plead with KPL and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to give us time to deal with the issue. We promise to address it quickly once we take over office,” he said.

It also emerged yesterday that the club vice chairman Walter Onyino tendered his resignation over the matter.

Onyino was one of the signatories to the Zulu deal and said in his resignation letter that he is stepping aside to allow the club’s executive committee to make a decision on the matter.

Wananchi Group Chief Executive Officer Richard Bell waded into the matter yesterday and challenged SuperSport and KPL to table their broadcast deal and clear the air on any infringements.

Bell, in a statement, said the action by KPL giving Leopards an ultimatum amounted to arm twisting and his company was ready to get out of the deal if it is indeed proved that it breaches the agreement with SuperSport.