Nairobi News

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Betting giants fight over Leopards sponsorship


Two leading betting firms are fighting to win the shirt sponsoring rights of Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards.

Nairobi News has reliably learnt that online betting firm SportPesa, who are also the sponsors of Kenya’s top-tier league, have entered the race to be Ingwe’s shirt sponsors at the expense of another soccer betting firm, Betway, who are also interested.

We have gathered that Ingwe and Betway have been negotiating for some time and most of the details had been agreed on.

However, SportPesa entered the race at the last minute, complicating the situation.

The entry of SportPesa has left Leopards officials with a difficult choice to make, even as they desperately crave for shirt sponsors to relieve them of the financial burden.

Ingwe have operated on a shoe- strong budget in the last two seasons after their former partners Mumias Sugar Limited pulled out citing “unfavourable financial climate”at their firm.

Mumias’ withdrawal left Ingwe with their pockets turned inside out and the entry of a new sponsor would have been a big relief.

We have established that Betway are keen to enter into a three-year sponsorship with Ingwe to a tune of Sh 25 million annually but SportPesa has ambushed them by dangling a sweeter carrot.