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When Alfred Sambu was elected, much was expected from him. Having
been the Chairman of AFC Leopards during the height of its powers, many
Kenyans expected him to be a breath of fresh air after having suffered
through the horrors of the Maina Kariuki regime. Sambu at least had
shown that he had a genuine interest in football and not just its
potential financial benefits. This may still be true. However it must
be said that he has been far too quiet. The only time we football fans
heard from Sambu was when he was fighting to keep his position as KFF
chairman. Since regaining his position we have not heard a peep from
him. In fact Sambu hardly appears interested in the goings on at KFF
leaving most of the work to his secretariat. It appears he is only the
ceremonial chairman and has opted to focus on running his personal
business empire.
This hands off method of running a federation is detrimental to
the development of any sport. Ideally a KFF chairman should be at the
forefront of developing a coherent policy for among other things youth
development, marketing the sport, enhancing its popularity, seeking
sponsorship and ensuring the national team is adequately prepared for
international assignments.
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It is critical that Mr Sambu remain in the public eye. He after all is the
face of the federation. He of all people should understand how important public
relations is for a sporting body. He must convince the public that Kenya
football is now in good hands. It is only by winning the confidence of the
public that fans will begin to return to the terraces. He must convince sponsors
that KFF is now committed to accountability and transparency. As things stand
now, the national team has no sponsor. The leagues have no sponsor. Neither does
the Presidents cup. The Castle cup and the Hedex supercup ceased to exist when
sponsors pulled out. This at a time when KCB for example recently poured more
than KSH 100 million into motor sports.
Any federation chairman worth his salt should create an agenda of items that
he wants to accomplish during his term of office. He should then call a press
conference at least once every 3 months to update the public on the progress he
is making. By remaining in the public eye, Mr Sambu can at least get Kenyans
talking about football and maybe even getting excited about the sport. When fans read a stream of positive news about the sport, it sparks public interest.
So Mr Sambu we are asking you to get out of your foxhole and stop hiding.
Among other things, we Kenyans are dying to know what you plan to do about the
following:
- The sport needs a sustained public relations campaign to get fans back
into the terraces. How do you plan on doing this ? Hiding away in that fox
hole and sitting around doing nothing will not bring fans back. The perception of an aloof or absentee KFF chairman fosters disintrest among the public.
- At one point Kenya football had several sponsors for the league, the
national team, the supercup and youth tournaments. Do you have a plan in
place to bring back sponsors. How do you plan on convincing sponsors that
their money will be well accounted for and that their investment will be
worthwhile ?
- In the past, womens football has been given a short shrift by the KFF. Do you have any plans to strengthen womens football and make it competitive ?
- Youth football: Do you have a coherent plan for a sustainable youth
development scheme ? if not please start by reading
this link. Will you revive
the defunct inter provincial youth tournament that used to be sponsored by
Coca Cola ?
Hellooooooooooooo............Paging Mr Sambu are you still there ?
Helloooooooooooooooooo............<insert eerie silence here>
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