Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has promised that the FKF Premier League will have a broadcast partner before the commencement of the 2023–34 FKF Premier League campaign, which will tentatively commence in September.The Kenyan league has been without a broadcast sponsor for the last two years. Chinese broadcaster Startimes took off when the federation was disbanded in 2021, and Kenyan football has been in the dark ever since.##NAJAVA_MECA_7261890##When he took over as CS in October, Namwamba made it clear that he wanted to bring back the South African broadcaster, Supersport, six years after they left the country after a disagreement with the football managers in the country. The talks have since cooled off, with little communication about the talks between the two parties, if any, coming out of the ministry.Last weekend, Tanzanian broadcaster Azam acquired the rights to air two FKF Premier League games. The match between Kariobangi Sharks and Tusker FC and the Mashemeji Derby were aired by the broadcaster. The federation later disclosed that they are in talks with the company over a long-term partnership.The CS has now weighed in on the broadcast partner issue in an interview with Citizen TV. Asked about the steps his ministry has taken in acquiring a partner, the ministry boss, without going into details, promised that the league will have a partner by the start of next season’s campaign.”I made promises to Kenyans when I was reappointed Sports CS, and I intend to fulfill each and every promise made,” he said. “We will have a broadcast partner for the Kenyan league before the start of next season. Plans are at an advanced stage, and I want to assure the nation that we have a partner coming on board”.“We are coming for you,” – CS Ababu Namwamba on gov’t’s plan to resolve doping cheats #SemaNaCitizen @RashidAbdalla pic.twitter.com/cobYybTTuN— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 18, 2023 The CS also weighed in on the match-fixing menace that has rocked football in the country and the doping issue that is threatening to bring athletics to its knees. He says both vices are soon going to be criminalized.”As you know, I developed the Sports Act when I was minister in the Ministry of Sports in 2013, but we have realized that it has its shortcoming. We are going to amend the Sports Act to cover match-fixing and doping. The two will be criminal offenses punishable by law,” he added. We want the Africa Cup of Nations to be held here in 2027- President Ruto reaffirmsHe had some good news for football teams across all leagues in the country as well. “There will be a sponsorship package for teams across all leagues next season. This has to trickle down from the top-tier to the teams in the grassroots.” All this comes at a time when Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have submitted a joint bid to host the 2027 African Cup of Nations.The mystery of the Mashemeji Derby attendance and gate collection
