As the fresh season begins in Kenyan soccer, it is time to take a quick glance at the club structure in a broadly two-part series that may divide further into shirt sponsorships and club rights of several teams that are likely to participate in the forthcoming KPL season.
The Kenyan Premier League, popularly known as SportPesa Premier League for sponsorships reasons, has emerged as a professional league for men’s association football clubs in Kenya.
KPL holds the uppermost level in Kenyan soccer. It is scheduled to begin in just one week, wherein the opening matches are expected to be played in different venues all over the country.
According to reports, the league will witness 18 premier clubs playing against each other in a Home and Away format for 17 game weeks each.
What are shirt sponsorships?
As of now, the Kenyan sports industry is going through a wave of change that is likely to overhaul the existing system that is responsible for slowing the growth of sports in the country. The wave of change strives to alter the business face of sports with the help of various sports models that have been written and designed by leading private companies.
And, sponsorships are one of the things that will be changed among the several things that will undergo a transformation.
It will mainly revolve around shirt sponsorships. It is worth noting that the KPL has witnessed a major change in recent years right from team structures to the marketing budgets of several organizations.
As of now, KPL has 15 shirt sponsors with one sponsor covering two clubs. Meanwhile, three clubs do not have any shirt sponsors until now. Gambling companies have the maximum number of shirt sponsors in the KPL. Gambling accounts for 28 percent of shirt sponsors. Gambling companies emphasizes mainly on soccer and invest majorly in this game all over the globe. Players interested in this game can click here to learn more about soccer betting sites.
KPL has offered a huge market for gambling companies. Sports Pesa enjoys one of the largest shares in the Kenyan market. Sports Pesa happens to sponsor the main League as well and secured the official naming rights known as Sports Pesa Premier League) in a 250 Million, three-year sponsorship. The other gambling firms that share the KPL shirt sponsorship market consist of Odi Bet (Mathare United), Betika (Sofapaka FC), and EliteBet (Ulinzi Stars).
Meanwhile, other shirt sponsors include Wazito FC. Wazito FC is being seen as the future of Kenyan sports and will don a shirt with a financial firm as the sponsor. Aidos Kuneen, a cryptocurrency firm, is expected to be seen throughout the league when Wazito FC takes on the pitch against clubs.
