FKF Premier League in the balance after MP & Silva’s withdrawal
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has expressed willingness to renegotiate a multi-million shilling contract with a European based sports marketing firm.
The announcement arrived barely a day after the firm, known as MP & Silva, confirmed it will temporarily halt funding the FKF Premier League, as a result of a series of discrepancies in the five month old agreement.
The hitches according to MP & Silva’s Chief Operations Officer Roberto Damiglio, surround among other factors the exact worth and quality of the FKF Premier League and caliber of clubs that comprise the competition.
“FKF has a right to negotiate or review contracts entered into in the mutual interest of the federation and its partners, a principle that could never be more exemplified than in the present circumstances with MP & Silva,” a statement from FKF read in part.
FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT
MP & Silva have a five year contract with the federation, which according to the later entails the brokerage of all marketing, commercial and broadcasting opportunities of football competitions and national teams.
The agreement is said to be worth Sh 240 million annually, of which some Sh 80 million has already been disbursed.
“(Following these payments) We now consider the remaining minimum guarantee for the season for the season 2015 equal to Zero,” Damiglio wrote in his letter to the federation.
This development is likely to affect the smooth operations of the FKF Premier League, considering each of the participating club was assured of atleast Sh 10 million a season as per the contract. Tanzanian firm Azam are the broadcast partners of the competition.