NAIROBI, Kenya, March 26 – Cash strapped AFC Leopards on Thursday announced they are planning for a fundraising mid April to enable the club conduct its affairs, after shirt sponsor Mumias Sugar suspended their funding for three months.
Club assistant secretary general, Professor Asava Kadima confirmed to Capital Sport, they received notice from the Sugar Company that has been facing financial constraints since the beginning of last year.
Mumias Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director, Margret Makhungu told SuperSport.com the company is experiencing financial difficulties that had made it difficult to finance non core functions that were previously undertaken by the firm.
“We are experiencing some troubling moments that have made us make key decisions on sponsorships. Sponsoring football is not a core function of the company. For now we are reviewing our contract with the club.”
The decision came at a time the Den has been invaded by problems, where the technical bench and playing unit are yet to received their two month salary and bonus arrears, a result that saw the players paralyze their pre-season after going on strike on several occasions.
“Yes Mumias has informed us they will put our sponsorship on hold for three months because their cash flow is not stable but we are optimistic the partnership will resume soon. They are still our shirt sponsor since we have not terminated the contract.
“They haven’t released the salary and bonuses for the past two months and that’s why we are setting up plans to hold a fundraising as we search for other avenues,” Kadima declared.
The decision by Mumias comes just two months after the company had reaffirmed their commitment to the club.
In January, the company through the Managing Director Coutts Otolo disclosed the Company will meet its financial obligation and total commitment to the team until the end of their contract in December 2016.
Mumias Sugar has been paying the salaries of the players and the technical bench since signing a three-month deal in 2011.
Leopards who appointed former Gor Mahia and Tanzania’s Simba SC tactician to replace Dutchman Pieter De Jongh, seems to have found their form in the 2015 Kenyan Premier League after registering two wins and a draw in three matches.