We spent Sh6.5m on Footballer of The Year awards, says Kenyan Premier League

Muhoroni Youths chairman Moses Andagala receives his team's fair play award from Supersport's General Manager Auka Gacheo during the 2014 KPL Footballer of the Year Award (FOYA) gala at Safari Park Hotel on 19-11-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) spent Sh6.5 million for this year's Footballer of The Year awards, officials said. This comes in the wake of criticism over KPL's high expenditure on administrative matters as opposed to the clubs.

Last year, for example, the company spent a whopping Sh12million to organise its show-stopper KPL player of the year awards ceremony.

Yet each of the 16 clubs are given just Sh6.5million for the whole season as grants from sponsors.

According to KPL finance committee chairman George Odhiambo,  they spent Sh6.5million to organise this year's ceremony.

"We over-shot our budget by a huge amount last year, but we have been more prudent this time around by cutting down on some expenses," he said.

Odhiambo said he had to put his foot down this time around to ensure they stayed within the budget.

"We had agreed on not spending more than Sh6million last year, but the figure doubled because of too much hard drinks. At one point, I declined to pay until I got a proper explanation.

"We have been more careful this time. It is a fact that clubs are suffering and we need to give them more money. The goal is to get to Sh10million per year," he said.

Of the Sh6.5million spent this year, half went to cash awards for players with the rest paying for drinks and dinner," he said.

Elsewhere, a high-powered KPL delegation jet out on Sunday for South Africa to begin negotiations for a new broadcast deal with sponsors SuperSport.

The delegation will be led by KPL chairman Ambrose Rachier, Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa, Ellio Lollio (Thika United), George Odhiambo (KCB) and KPL Chief Executive Jack Oguda.

Rachier, who is also the Gor Mahia chairman, said they are confident of getting an improved deal for the next five years.

"We still have one year to go and so these talks are the initial ones leading to the time we sign the new deal. We are determined to negotiate for a better deal considering that there have been significant changes in the dollar rate and the rand since we signed this deal in 2010," he said.