Mathare United have received a Sh20 million sponsorship from gaming firm Triple5Bet, a shot in the arm for the cash-strapped 2008 Kenyan Premier League winners.
The sponsorship, which will last for one year with the possibility of a long-term contract, will see Mathare don jerseys with Triple5Bet.com on the front for the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) season.
Mathare have been a shadow of the 2008 team that claimed the title under now Wazito FC coach Francis Kimanzi, fighting to avoid relegation for the better part of the last five years and expectations are high this season, especially after coach Salim Ali signed a number of experienced players among them former Tusker FC an AFC Leopards defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng’.
Triple5Bet General Manager Paolo Abenavoli is keen to see his firm build a long-term partnership with the Slum Boys which will yield success on and off the pitch.
“We are proud to be sponsors of Mathare United because of the impact they have had on the Mathare community and Kenyan football at large. We have started with one year but we are keen on growing this partnership to a five-year engagement. We want Mathare to return to the top,” said Abenavoli, during the unveiling of the partnership at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday.
For Mathare chairman Bob Munro, the partnership is just what the doctor ordered for his club, which has been ailing financially as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has been a tough year for Kenyan football which has seen players struggle to stay afloat. Our players have remained resilient throughout the pandemic and I think this sponsorship is a big reward to them for not giving up,” Munro told reporters at the event.
With the cash incentive, there is added pressure on coach Ali to deliver silverware and Cheche is among those who believe the squad is capable of mounting a title challenge this season.
“It’s important to have financial stability when you want to challenge for the title because your players will always be motivated and you can strengthen the team with new signings when need be,” Cheche told Nation on the sidelines of the sponsorship launch.
Mathare are among teams yet to agree to a broadcast deal between pay-tv providers StarTimes and FKF, and as a result, were omitted from the fixtures list as the FKF-PL kicked off last weekend.
They have, however, been scheduled to face Ulinzi Stars in their season opener, pending confirmation from the league organisers.
