Less than a week after Kenya Premier League (KPL) announced re-signing a five year deal with Supersport on the exclusive rights to air top flight league matches, Federation of Kenya Football (FKF) have announced an alternative deal.
Goal.com reports that the FKF have entered into a deal with a ‘leading’ broadcaster in Europe who they have given exclusive rights to air KPL matches starting next season according to a top official at FKF whose identity remains hidden.
“We have penned a deal with the new company because they are offering a good deal in terms of monies. Teams will get KSh9.5 million (Ugx. 285 million) grant and this will support our quest for an eighteen team league which we will have as from next season.
“SuperSport were giving clubs KSh7m (Ugx. 210 million) and this will be a good deal for the clubs. As it stands, SuperSport will now have to ask us for airtime if they want to continue broadcasting Kenyan Premier League.
“The issue is already sealed and the new broadcast sponsor will be unveiled in due course. We are shocked that SuperSport went ahead to sign an extended five year deal with KPL without our consent. We are the ones mandated to run football and we must take charge of the same.
“The new company will discuss with KBC on how to air matches. It will be upon KBC to agree with them. Already talks are underway on the same. But for SuperSport…they will have to write to us if they want to show a number of matches. The deal is beyond SuperSport now.”
Last week, Goal.com revealed that KPL had signed a new five year improved deal with Supersport despite the fact FKF was against the move.
KPL then cited it was an independent body with a status of a private company thus they were in position to enter contract with any party.
“I can confirm that we signed a five year contract extension with SuperSport when several of us visited South Africa three weeks ago. Everything was in order and we did not need to consult anyone as we are a private company,” said George Odhiambo, who heads company’s finance committee.
He added: “FKF President (Sam Nyamweya) is a director of KPL and they cannot therefore, claim not to have known about this new deal. Furthermore, they were not even involved in previous agreement which was strictly between KPL and SuperSport. We had a meeting and agreed on this matter but if they did not attend we cannot entirely be blamed.”
