Leopards in talks with new sponsorship partner

AFC Leopards Chairman Dan Mule.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants AFC Leopards are finalizing talks with a new corporate partner over hopes of sealing a sponsorship deal.

The 2017 GOtv Shield winners saw their two-year partnership with a gaming firm cut short following a tax raw with the Government and are eager to move on ahead of the new season.

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The betting company on Tuesday terminated all its local sponsorships after Kenya’s High Court upheld a 35 percent tax rate levied on the gambling industry.

Leopards, along with their archrivals and KPL champions Gor Mahia FC, had indicated they will petition to withdraw from their CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League respectively owing to financial constraints but Chairman Dan Mule has asked the club supporters to stay hopeful.

“By the end of this month we will be having a new sponsor because we are currently in talks with some companies,” Mule told Citizen Digital.

Despite the sponsorship setback, Leopards have been active in the transfer window as they seek to bolster their squad for the forthcoming continental assignments in February where they kick off their Confederations Cup preliminary round with a trip to Madagascar’s Fosa Juniors FC.

The 12-time champions have loaned out third choice goalkeeper Edwin Mukolwe to KPL new boys Wazito FC and have also reportedly traded forward Samuel Ndung’u to Mathare United.

Apart from Gor and Leopards, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) are among those affected by the gaming company’s decision to terminate local sponsorships.

The betting firm’s sponsorships of foreign teams, including English Premier League club Everton and Championship side Hull City, are unaffected.