There is great excitement among football fans ahead of the 2008 Premier League's kick-off this Saturday. This excitement is not misplaced.
Clubs, players, coaches, referees and fans are looking forward to a more vibrant season after the recent signing of a multi-million shilling deal between the Kenya Premier League Ltd and a South African pay television company, Supersport International.
Supersport will, for the next four years, pump in Sh945 million for marketing and broadcasting the competition which has never had any income since the exit of corporate sponsors five years ago.
Finally, clubs, players and referees will earn from participating in the competition. Further, televising the matches across Africa will market our players to leading clubs on the continent and in Europe.
The deal will also spur Kenyan clubs to operate more professionally. This, in turn, will help attract more corporate sponsorship for the erstwhile ailing clubs.
While we look forward to a good season, the officials running the show must not keep their eye off the ball and allow biased officiating, financial impropriety and other vices.With a credible management of the game, fans are bound to troop back into our stadiums and help revive the dying game.
Success in the league will be a big boost to the national team's bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals whose qualification begins in four months.
Enough has been said of the Kenya Football Federation's management inadequacies. We hope the same ills will not ruin the rebirth of club football.
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