Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya has raised several concerns over the deal broadcast partnership deal signed between the local federation and Tanzania-based Azam Media Limited.
On Thursday, FKF and Azam TV signed a partnership that will run for seven years worth USD 1 million for the first season, with an increment of 10% for the subsequent seasons. Under the deal, Azam Media will air four matches in every round on their Pay TV and Digital platforms. However, Nyamweya has castigated the partnership as per his statement obtained by Africa Top Sports below:
Today we witnessed the unveiling of the Broadcasting agreement for the FKF Premier League between the Football Kenya Federation and Tanzania pay TV channel Azam. While as a stakeholder and former President of Football Kenya Federation I welcome Azam back into Kenyan football, I am left disappointed by the kind of agreement the FKF leadership entered for broadcasting the country’s top league.
Read Also: FKF unveils Azam TV as Premier League broadcast partner
It is either the league has sunk so low to a level we are getting peanuts or the federation has decided to auction it all together. The agreement leaves so many questions that all football stakeholders must ask and put the FKF to task.
- The current FKF’s term ends in six months’ time, why would the federation sign a seven-year broadcasting contract?
- Were clubs consulted before the deal was agreed and signed?
- How much will clubs be getting?
Compared to US Dollars 100 million Azam has pumped into Tanzania football, the US Dollars 1 million our clubs will be getting leaves a lot to be desired. Granted, the Tanzania league has grown over the past few years, but we should not accept our clubs (in Kenya) being taken for a ride by the same federation that has messed up the league. We are all aware that it is the same federation that kicked out the KPL that was professionally managing the league years back and set up the FKF PL which led to the exit of Supersport and other sponsors.
The low valuation by Azam negotiators is a reflection of its true worth after eight years of mismanagement and out of the public glare since FKF took over from KPL Ltd. We all know that Nick Mwendwa and his team are want to use the Azam deal to slither their way back to office, but I urge the clubs and stakeholders to unite and send them home.
As a priority, the management of the Kenyan league should return control to the clubs to prevent any potential political manipulation, for as things stand now that league is a political instrument. Should it, however, remain under FKF’s strict management, then members should push for the enactment of regulations that prevent any incumbent leadership from signing partnership agreements or business contracts that extend past their term in office.
We must not allow our football and especially the league to be auctioned to the highest bidder.