By Robin Toskin
They have received a lot of stick lately. The fans said they are unfit. And a Cooper Test was promptly administered. The cries from the terraces even grew louder as the fit as a fiddle whistle men hesitated, sometimes taking up to five seconds to decide it is a penalty (refer to Posta versus Sony clip).
A sage and a FIFA Referees Instructor Christian Chikuka from Zambia was called in to refresh the beleaguered whistle men.
And on Friday, a Knight in Shining Armour— sports apparel manufacturer, Umbro, came to the rescue with a three-year kit sponsorship to the tune of Sh4.5 million.
Announcing the sponsorship on Friday in a Nairobi hotel, Kenyan Premier League chairman Elly Kalekwa said: "It is step towards the right direction. It will motivate our referees who have been putting on torn uniforms. Through our partners we shall continue helping them in gaining knowledge that is why we also invited a Zambian instructor in his private capacity to come and help our officials."
KPL vice-chairman Gabriel Ottiende said Umbro’s sponsorship is an appreciation of the gains we have made as a league including the service rendered by the referees.
