Nairobi News

General

Harambee Stars land StarTimes deal


Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has agreed on a Sh 500 million sponsorship deal over a five-year period with Chinese firm StarTimes.

As part of the agreement, StarTimes Media has confirmed its commitment to sponsoring all of the country’s national football teams.

In return, the upcoming media house has acquired exclusive broadcast rights to all friendly matches involving the Harambee Stars, the national women football team and the youth teams during the period.

FKF has also revealed it is in negotiations with the Confederation of African Football, to acquire some rights of continental matches for StarTimes, including Saturday’s Africa Nations Championship (Chan) qualification match between Kenya and Ethiopia in Nairobi.

INVESTING IN THE TEAM

“We are encouraged with the news that the team now has a sponsor. This development will help us raise our game as is always the case when our matches are on TV,” Harambee Stars’ assistant captain Collins “Gattuso” Okoth said.

The national football teams will also receive StarTimes branded kits, including track suits and travelling bags as part of the arrangement.

“The national football team is the pinnacle of sporting desire to Kenyans, and we are keen on investing in the national team to help these players succeed,” StarTimes Director of Sports, Gary Rathbone said at the function.

StarTimes becomes the third foreign based media house to acquire a stake in the Kenyan football market, a move will not only financially benefit the country’s most popular game, but also intensify the competition for the audience in the Pay Tv world, after SuperSport and Azam Tv.