FKF president Nick Mwendwa addresses the press on Tuesday in Nairobi.(Photo/Citizentv.co.ke)
With the 2018 Kenya Premier League season only one week away,focus has now shifted to the government to honour its promise of cushioning the sporting industry in the country after the withdrawal of betting firm Sportpesa from doing the same.
Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa revealed on Tuesday that they were now banking on the government to come to their rescue and ensure that the league does not collapse amid looming cash crunch.
In a press briefing at the federation' headquarters in Nairobi, Mwendwa revealed that they had since sent their budget to the permanent secretary in the ministry of sports and expressed optimism that government as well as other stakeholders would step in to raise the over half a billion shillings the federation normally spends in their annual undertakings.
"We have been discussing the implications of the withdrawal of our main sponsor and we are glad the government has agreed to step in.The prayer remains that they do it swiftly so that there are no fatalities and the gap is sealed early before the league starts.On the other hand we have been engaging with our previous partners to stay within the game so that we can continue building what we began.I also believe that an amicable solution will be reached between the government through the revenue authority and the gaming firms will be reached," he said.
Early this month betting giants throw the sports industry into confusion and utter shock after announcing their withdrawal from sponsoring various sports undertakings in the country tp protest a 35 per cent tax levy imposed on them by the government.
However deputy president William Ruto downplayed the exit saying at the government would release funds to a tune of Ksh 500 million to cushion the industry.