Cash-strapped Leopards introduce e-ticketing to ensure survival
By People Reporter, August 30, 2019
David Ndolo
Cash-strapped AFC Leopards soccer club has enacted an e-ticketing system to sustain the outfit ahead of the 2019/2020 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and beyond.
The deliberate policy is aimed at keeping the community club afloat after giant sports betting platform SportPesa withdrew sponsorship due to a dispute with the government over tax remittances.
The venture implies that Ingwe, which has one of the biggest fan bases in the country, will be at the mercy of supporters and well-wishers who can pay as little as Sh 10 up to Sh 500,000 to support the team.
To support the team, one requires to log on to *417 hush and access the club’s pay-bill number with the donation going into the club’s account. There is also information on the procedure of registration as a member.
Speaking during the unveiling of the system in Nairobi, Leopards newly-elected chairman Dan Shikanda said his management would target at least Sh 100 million per year to be used to remunerate players and technical bench officials as well as honouring league fixtures.
“AFC leopards is a big club which needs not go round with begging bowls. It’s unfortunate that SportPesa which was our biggest facilitator backed out but the team has to survive anyway and something had to be done by members,’’ said Shikanda while underscoring the need for Kenyans to rescue the team from the doldrums.
‘“Leopards is not a team of incumbent officials or politicians from Western Kenya.