It is Official. The ‘rosy romantic’ dating procedure between the Uganda Premier League clubs and the Tanzania based Pay Television giants Azam T.V has finally reaped ‘fruitful dividends’.
As you read this, only hours remain to the official launch of the sponsors as the new league sponsors at Serena Hotel in Kampala.
The development follows close to three months of silent negotiations between the clubs and the Azam Television representatives.
In some of the meetings, Azam TV officials met and discussed with a cross section of Ugandan club officials including Vipers’ director and former FUFA president, Lawrence Mulindwa.
According to Rhys Torrington, the Azam Media Chief Executive Officer, the league sponsorship rights presents that much desired opportunity for the company to build their business empire in Uganda and East Africa.
It is a dream realized. Associating with Uganda’s football will definitely help us penetrate the ever growing middle class in Uganda will also drive the need for pay television with variety of content and a number of local and international channels of choice.
Details of the deal:
Kawowo Sports has been able to peep into the nitty-gritty of the Azam – Uganda premier league deal that takes immediate effect for a period of 2 and a half years.
Besides the live coverage of the league fixtures, each of the 16 Uganda Premier League (UPL) clubs is set to receive $ 16363 (about 45M) for the second round of the league slated to kick off on 13th February 2015.
The best news to the ears of many clubs is that the majority of the clubs have already received a down payment of $ 7782 (about U.shs 21M). Kira Young’s Jimmy Lukwago confirmed to Kawowo Sports.
We received our down payment from Azam TV and this is the money that we have used to clear all the club debtors, sign new players and help in the club’s operational costs ahead of the second round.
Clubs like Entebbe F.C also acknowledged receipt of the down payment, part of which was directed towards the Entebbe Bugonga stadium renovation where the team anticipates to relocate.
The company (AZAM T.V) takes over the naming rights of the league and the league shall thus be called the Azam Uganda Premier League with a total package of $2.25M (1.28BN Uganda shillings).
Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) is however still silent on the matter ever since acknowledging having received of the AZAM T.V offer way back on 23rd December 2014.
Hiccups:
It remains to be seen what happens to the earlier deal that was signed between USL limited and Super Sports. All the clubs have since departed USL in quest of where ‘bread is better buttered’.
A bloody war is thus predicted as USL’s director, Kavuma Kabenge is seeking court intervention as he vows:
We can not just look on when all this ‘comedy’ is going on. We are seeking court to help to bring normalcy.
Super Sport still has a running contract with USL Limited for another 2 and a half years and was willing to triple the sponsorship to U.shs 6.5 Billion in a deal that was to cover the Uganda Cup and the FUFA Big League clubs.
Sports Club Vipers strong man, Harunah Kyobe, one of the influential figures behind the AZAM T.V league take over remains adamant and confident, all is well and he boldly asserts:
We do not have any more business with USL Limited. All the clubs agreed on Unison to walk out of USLL’s agreement and therefore we are not accountable to them any more.
Azam TV Uganda General Manager Simon Arineitwe (right) with Vipers’ chairperson Kitandwe Thadius (center) and Phiona ‘Fifi’ Namiiro (Kira Young media officer) during an earlier press briefing in Kampala. The three have been key elements in preaching the AZAM T.V Gospel to the rest of the clubs.
FUFA remains silent, the league is slated to kick off mid February 2015, clubs have received some financial package, Azam TV officially launches on Monday, 2nd February 2015 but USL and Super Sport will not entertain the messy situation, what is next???
Watch this space….
