Following recent State House visits by Kenya’s Gor Mahia, Shabana, and Migori Youth football teams, it was the turn of AFC Leopards to reap bountifully from an invitation by the Presidency, leaving with pledges and cash totalling 35.8 million Kenyan Shillings ($277 000).
While hosting the 12-time FKF Premier League champions, Kenyan President William Ruto pledged to boost the club’s sponsorship kitty to 99.1 million Shillings ($767 000) by adding a further 25.8 million Shillings [$200 000].
Ruto also handed over 9.9 million Shillings ($77 000) directly to the club. Half of that amount is earmarked as a reward to the players and the technical bench, with the remaining portion dedicated to aiding the team in their upcoming transfer business.
Ruto justified the major donation by noting that sports must be treated as a serious business that has the potential to take Kenya places.
The reception follows a busy month of sports diplomacy at State House. On July the 14th, the President hosted the national women’s football teams, both the senior side and the under-17 squad, promising to reward them handsomely as they prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the Under-17 World Cup, both of which are set to take place in Morocco.
–ChannelAfrica–
