- Cleophas Toto Shimanyula, Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Toto Shimanyula has endorsed the Sh8m-a-year sponsorship deal for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs after facing threats that his team would be removed from the top-flight
Kakamega businessman affirmed that he has read through the terms of sponsorship and that concluded that it is not harmful to clubs. He reprimanded Nick mwendwa, FKF president for using threats.
Shimanyula had been censorious about the record deal agreed between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and a Nigerian betting firm, joining Gor Mahia FC and Sofapaka FC in expressing reservations about its authenticity.
“Even if we have signed or not signed we have sent our stance. The problem is that they (FKF) have started using threats saying that if we don’t sign then they will lock us out of the top tier league next season.
“That should not be the case. The president of FKF has no powers and basis as to why he should scrap us from the top league nooo. You can’t relegate us just because we don’t want free money,” Shimanyula explained.
According to the reports, Homeboyz had been given a period of seven days to subscribe to the deal, or else they’ll risk their relegation to the National Super League (NSL).
“After going through the sponsorship terms we have come to conclude that it will not negatively impact our team and that is why we have sent our representative to Nairobi to sign,” Shimanyula said.
The deal is now 100 backed by top tier teams with these development and with reports of Nzoia Sugar chairman Evans Kadende having their bank details sent and all the forms required to FKF with Gor Mahia also among the latest clubs to jump into the boat.
