Dear friends,

According to the BBC report below, top Nigerian clubs will boycott their 2005 Premier League because the NFA failed to pay the clubs their share of the Premier League sponsorship funds.

Yet in Kenya:
-  Our clubs never even get a share of KFF sponsorship funds
-  Our clubs do not directly benefit from the annual FIFA grants of Ksh 20 million
-  Our top clubs, players and referees received no KFF awards at all for over two years
-  KFF stood on the sidelines while six top clubs collapsed financially in just two years
-  KFF still owes our clubs, coaches players and referees over Ksh 10 million
-  KFF national and Branch officials cannot account for KFF deductions from our matches since 2000
-  KFF cannot account for revenue from the many international matches featuring our players
-  KFF uses our clubs as cash cows for milking with exorbitant and unjustified KFF fees
-  KFF refuses to show our KFF member clubs how they spend our money

In the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) formed by the clubs in 1996, the Chairman of financially struggling Santos FC admitted in 2002 that "the US$ 23,000 PSL monthly grants do make a huge difference" (AFRICAN SOCCER, May 2002, page 20). That means their 16 Premier League clubs each receive over US$ 276,000 (Ksh 22 million) a year from the PSL. The annual awards are additional. For example, Cup champions Kaizer Chiefs won US$ 200,000 (Ksh 16 million) while in Kenya the Cup champions get nothing except a battered trophy.

Just like in the Premier Leagues in England*, South Africa and many other successful football countries, two key principles of the Kenyan Premier League Ltd are:
1. That the Premier League be owned and managed by the participating clubs who each have equal shares and votes*;
2. That funds must now flow to clubs from the Premier League and not from clubs to KFF if our clubs and Kenyan football are to survive.

With best wishes,
Bob

* As requested, attached is a 2-page summary on the English Premier League from their own website.
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Nigerian clubs demand cash
BBC Sport, Lagos, November 6, 2004
By Oluwashina Okeleji

Nigeria's Premier League clubs have resolved to boycott the 2005 season if the country's FA does not disburse outstanding revenue due to them.

Jude Ezechukwu, chairman of the Association of Nigerian Premier League Clubs, told BBC Sport that the failure of the Nigeria FA (NFA) to pay their share of sponsorship revenue for 2004 has stretched the lean finances of the clubs. "The Pro-League Board promised to pay the money but nothing has happened," Ezechukwu complained. "As a result, we've resolved that the money must be paid or league football will be grounded next season." Ezechukwu said a boycott of the league was the only way the clubs can force the NFA to pay their share of sponsorship revenue from the telecommunications firm Globacom. "Clubs are surviving on shoestring budgets and the money would have helped to relieve their burdens."

Salisu Abubakar, head of the NFA's Pro-League Board, recently admitted that the money was used to prosecute Nigeria's campaign at the last African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. "The money was used for the Cup of Nations in January and the clubs will get the money when we receive it. We are striving to fulfil our promise and I can assure them that we will certainly pay the money," Abubakar told BBC Sport.

But Ezechukwu was unimpressed by Abubakar's confession and subsequent promise. "It's an irresponsible comment from a professional body like the NFA. Can you imagine the English FA giving this kind of excuse to clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United?" Ezechukwu asked.