Kasavuli desperate to fix Ingwe’s financial mess
The financial crisis that has hit AFC Leopards could take much longer to resolve, chairman Allan Kasavuli has said.
Speaking on a local radio station on Sunday afternoon Kasavuli said he is isn’t sure when and how the club’s acute financial shortfall will be offset.
This was Kasavuli’s first formal interview since the club’s accounts were reportedly frozen by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) owing to non compliance of the new tax regulations three months ago.
“The club and our sponsors (Mumias Sugar Company) have been speaking to the revenue people; we have not refused to pay taxes, but we are saying the payments which have been backdated to 2008 should be staggered through a period. I cannot ascertain when we will reach an agreement on this matter,” Kasavuli said.
Instead, the chairman hinted that the club was, in the meantime, exploring other options to raise money for the club in the short term including appealing for help from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
FINANCIAL CRUNCH
The club is also considering launching a mobile phone pay bill number through which fans will send contributions to enable the team continue with its operations.
KRA’s move to freeze the club’s accounts has since caused a severe financial crunch which has resulted in huge salary and allowances arrears for the players and members of the technical bench. These arrears date back to October 2014.
As a result, a number of senior players including Bernard Mang’oli, James Situma, Martin Musalia, Humphrey Mieno, Jacob Keli, Noah Wafula and Edwin Wafula have asked to leave the club.
Kasavuli however called for patience on the part of players while blaming “rogue agents” who are keen on getting commissions for inciting the players to demand for transfers.
The chairman also said the administration is finalizing plans to sign five players ahead of the new season.
The new players will be unveiled before the end of this week with the team set to officially commence pre-season training on Wednesday.