NAIROBI, Kenya, February 14- The 2011 Kenya Premier League (KPL) season kicks off on Sunday with the SuperSport/DStv Cup live on your World of Champions.Reigning KPL champions Ulinzi Stars face off against Football Kenya Limited cup holders Sofapaka live on SuperSport 9 at 3pm in the country’s traditional curtain-raiser at the Nyayo National Stadium.
It may be a friendly, but at stake are bragging rights and Sh750 000 for the victors while the runners-up walk away with Sh500 000 for their efforts.
Both sides will be using the match to fine-tune their squads before the start of the 2011 season, which kicks off on February 26 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
“The SuperSport/DStv Cup will be the start of another great KPL season and it will also give us an idea of how prepared two of the key contenders – League champions Ulinzi Stars and Cup Champions Sofapaka – are for the season ahead. Sunday is when it all starts and, frankly, I can’t wait,” said SuperSport Head of Africa, Gary Rathbone.
The match will also give fans a chance to watch the club’s new signings in action. Sofapaka have beefed up their squad with John Njoroge, Heritier Nomvele, Francis Ouma, James Orundu and Elly Asieche, while Ulinzi have secured the signatures of Allan Otindo, Tom Onyango, Collins Kisuya and Mike Barasa, among others.
Rathbone also revealed that SuperSport had made big plans with live games set for every weekend for the entire season. This includes broadcasting matches from venues like Mombasa, Awendo, Nakuru, Naivasha and Thika, as well as the usual stadiums: City Stadium, Nyayo stadium and Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
“We are very excited to once again be standing at the threshold of what promises to be a tremendous KPL season. Over the past three years the league has grown in leaps and bounds and we expect the 2011 season to take Kenyan football to unprecedented heights. We have seen the hard work and dedication to excellence delivered by the KPL administration and the club chairmen, who have successfully proven that it is possible to have excellent, high quality and well organised football in Kenya. We are proud of our partnership with them,” concluded Rathbone.
The amount of matches broadcast by SuperSport will rise substantially in the new season with the introduction of the KPL Top8, a new tournament that will be contested by the top eight finishers from last season.
All Top8 matches will be played out on Wednesday evenings live on SuperSport, with more riches in store for the winner.
The highly entertaining and informative Simba Super Soccer magazine show will continue its behind-the-scenes look at the KPL with news making headlines, player profiles and matchday analysis at the forefront.
In addition, the second season of Club Safari returns to SuperSport’s screens. This is a half-hour show focusing on the behind the scenes and day-to-day happenings at all the clubs in the Kenyan elite division. Every week a different club comes under the spotlight.
