- Express Football club prospective sponsors’ representatives arrived in Uganda on Thursday.
- They met the deputy speaker of parliament, finance authorities, Express patron Prince Kassim Nakibinge.
- They are expected to conclude talks in the coming days.
- The $ 200,000 sponsorship is expect to start with Express and will spread wings to 3 other clubs in the Uganda Premier League.
The off season often provides many football clubs world over with that ‘ample’ time to prepare and plan for the future ahead.
It is during this vital period that many clubs return to the famous ‘drawing board’ strategy to reflect on the season past (review), reflect on the times ahead and as well, off load and beef up the technical and playing staff.
In the Ugandan setting, the trend is no different given the massive use of the new media and commercialization of the beautiful game.
Express Football club alongside a couple of other teams are “sweet talking” potential sponsors and partners, SC Villa Jogoo named a new club patron and clubs as Onduparaka, Kirinya – Jinja S.S, Mbarara City, Masavu and Soana have confirmed fresh technical benches.
In Unison, all the clubs have been busy testing out new players on board (trials) and out right purchases.
The Wankulukuku based outfit, Express is one club that has of late lined up a partner, Sports Pesa, also the official sponsors of English side Everton Football club.
Club chairperson Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, who is also the Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, has been the key person in lining up the deal.
Most recently, Nakiwala in company of the FUFA President Moses Magogo traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to watch Gor Mahia play English Premier League side Everton in an off-season friendly match, a plat form that she used to meet and conclude with the company’s top directors.
This followed a second trip to Kenya to finalize on the deal.
On Thursday, three officials representing the sports betting company Ronald Karauri (CEO, Kenya) and his Tanzanian counterpart, Pavel Slavkov arrived in Uganda to ascertain the conducive environment for their business side.
The trio held ‘constructive talks’ with the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Olanyah, finance ministry officials, Express patron Prince Kassim Nakibinge and President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta at Entebbe State House.
Nakiwala revealed to Kawowo Sports that all the meetings were a complete success;
All the meetings have been a success and the sponsors are now guaranteed of a tranquil environment and further ‘positive’ amendments to the current gaming and lotteries regulations in the country
In the event the deal is finalized, Express will earn at least $ 200,000 per year from sponsorship.
The company has also promised to take up three more clubs in the country in the subsequent seasons.
“Yes. It is true we shall start with Express given the strong fans’ base, rich heritage and history for the club,” Karauri told Kawowo Sports at Entebbe International Airport VIP lounge during a press conference.
Should the deal materialize, Express will have clinched their third sponsor after pay TV DSTV and Jungle Fever, a Swedish based organization that will sponsor the club’s training kits with a fee estimated at Ug.shs 350M per season.
The Red Eagles finished a distant 5th last season and were knocked out by eventual champions KCCA at the semi final stage of the FUFA Uganda Cup.