Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports Ababu Namwamba has made another bold promise for the Kenyan football fraternity after promising ‘a package like has never been seen before’ ahead of the start of the next Kenya Premier League (FKFPL) season.The ‘package’, as the Cabinet Secretary announced – and quoted by Nation Sports – will encompass two things; live broadcast of football and significant sponsorship money, both to clubs and players.Cs Ababu Namwamba @AbabuNamwamba joined the @moyasa_ke at the middle of a season. He could do little.Beginning the new seasons,it shall be all systems go for KPL as there shall be a consistent broadcast partner,other sponsors and good package for the winners.#TalantaHela pic.twitter.com/uzWVv6zS3L— Obuyu Onalo (@Obuyu_Foe) May 30, 2023 “I’m promising you a package like has never been seen before ahead of the start of the next Kenya Premier League season,” Ababu Namwamba said. “It will include live broadcast of football, significant sponsorship money going to the pockets of clubs and therefore the pockets of players.“That is part of what we’re putting together under this Talanta Hela Program.”The development comes after the Cabinet Secretary on Tuesday met with 47 County Executive Committee members for a discussion aimed at aligning the ministry’s plans ahead of the project (Talanta Hela) rollout.LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCEAs the D-day for the #TalantaHela initiative’s Presidential unveiling nears, CS @AbabuNamwamba, flanked by PS @IsmailMaalim19, hosted the 47 County Executive Committee members, to a discussion aimed at aligning their plans ahead of the project rollout. pic.twitter.com/VBzptrUgq1— Ministry Of Youth Affairs, The Arts & Sports (@moyasa_ke) May 30, 2023 As per reports, Kenya’s President William Ruto will on Friday 2 June officially unveil the Talanta Hela program that will be solely expected to monetize sports and creative arts from grassroot level, with the Counties set to play a pivotal role in its success.Under the Talanta Hela initiative, counties will be required to provide teams to take part in the Presidential Bottom-up Football tournament for U-19 boys and girls, with the two top teams playing in a Presidential finals to be held during this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations.##NAJAVA_MECA_7292188##On league sponsorship, the league is expected to have a new sponsor on board for next season, one that will end the current sad state of affairs that revealed there will be no prize money for the 2022-2023 Football Kenya Federation Premier League winner.In a recent interview with Standard Sports, FKF President Nick Mwendwa commented on the matter saying; “There’s no money and we won’t reward the league champions this season. We will not have any prize giving. Where is the money going to come from? This was just a rescue season. We might want to try and even have a gala, but we don’t have the statistics and a committee in place that should have been following players’ performance.”AK, HFC enter partnership to help athletes become house ownersEven with that, cautious optimism surrounds the sport especially after pay-platform Azam TV secured a short-term deal to air two FKF Premier League matches earlier this month, and all indications pointing towards them being interested in broadcasting the league next term.
