Kenyan Premier League

Kenyan Premier League
Founded 1963
Country  Kenya
Confederation CAF
Number of teams 18
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to National Super League
Domestic cup(s) President's Cup
Super Cup
Top 8 Cup
International cup(s) CAF Champions League
CAF Confederation Cup
Current champions Tusker
(2016)
Most championships Gor Mahia
(15 titles)
TV partners SuperSport
Website www.kpl.co.ke
Current season

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), also known as the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) for sponsorship reasons, is a professional league for men's association football clubs in Kenya. Standing at the top of the Kenyan football league system, the league was formed in 1963 under the Kenya Football Federation but is now controlled by the Football Kenya Federation. It is contested by 16 clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Kenyan National Super League. Gor Mahia are the league's current champions and most successful club, with a record 15 titles to their name.

The league was mostly stable until the late 1990s and since then its performance had been considered below average, with many of the league's clubs having little or no finances to support themselves. However, since SuperSport became an official league partner, the league has taken on a more serious role with teams becoming professional and the majority of the clubs managing to get kit sponsorships. This saw the level of competition improve compared to past periods.

Origin

Following constant wrangles between the then football governing administration and the eventual deteriorating of the National Football League, participating clubs opted out and decided to form a company that would see the smooth running of the league in a professional and transparent manner. In 2003, the Kenyan Premier League was created and registered as a limited liability company whose ownership was shared amongst all the sixteen participating clubs and was to be affiliated to the Kenya Football Federation.

The league was known as the Kenya National Football League from its creation in 1963 to 1996, the Kenyan Super League in 1973 and 1997 and, from 1998, the Kenyan Premier League.

Corporate structure

The Kenyan Premier League is operated and run as a private limited company incorporated in October 2003 under the Companies Act of Kenya. It is fully owned and managed by the 18 member clubs with each club being a shareholder. It is affiliated to Football Kenya Federation, which is also a shareholder and voting member of the KPL Board of directors. Non-voting members include the Kenya Football Coaches Association and the Kenya Football Referees Association.

The current CEO is Jack Oguda and Frank Okoth is the current COO and LNO. Okoth is also in charge of logistics.

Sponsorship

East African Breweries, through their Tusker brand, held the naming rights to the league from 21 August 2012 to 6 August 2015.

The improved level of competition and eventual attention given to the league by the fans has seen major companies in Kenya lining up to partner with clubs. At the moment, the league does not have a title sponsorship but it has a broadcasting deal with SuperSport. Umbro is the official referee kit supplier and is also the official ball provider.

On 21 August 2012 the Kenyan Premier League signed a Ksh. 170 million (US$2.02 million; £1.28 million; €1.62 million) deal with East African Breweries to rename the league to the Tusker Premier League, the most lucrative deal in Kenyan football history at the time.[1] On 18 October 2012 the league signed a Ksh. 10 million (US$117,275; £73,242; €90,052) deal with Puma, which made them the Official ball supplier for the league and its clubs with immediate effect.[2]

On 6 August 2015, East African betting company SportPesa gained the naming rights to the league, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the KPL reportedly worth Ksh. 450 million (approx. US$4.36 million, £2.84 million or €3.87 million) to rename the league to the SportPesa Premier League.[3] As part of the sponsorship, a new trophy was revealed by SportPesa and the KPL on 30 October 2015, with Gor Mahia, the 2015 champions, set to be its first recipients and retain the previous trophy for good. The trophy was manufactured in Italy, weighs 12 kg (26 lb) and is made of brass.[4]

Competition

There are 16 clubs in the Kenyan Premier League. During the course of a season, usually from February to November, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system): once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 30 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, the ordering is determined by their head-to-head records. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to the National Super League, with its top two teams promoted in their place.

Clubs

Logo used from January 2003 to August 2012.

The league's most popular teams are rivals A.F.C. Leopards and Gor Mahia.last title-winning season in 2015, while A.F.C. Leopards won their 12th league title in 1998.

Team Location Stadium Capacity
A.F.C. Leopards Nairobi Nyayo National Stadium 30,000
Bandari Mombasa Mombasa Municipal Stadium 10,000
Chemelil Sugar Chemelil Chemelil Sports Complex 5,000
Gor Mahia Nairobi Nairobi City Stadium 15,000
Kakamega Homeboyz Kakamega Bukhungu Stadium 5,000
Kariobangi Sharks Nairobi Narok Stadium 4,000
Mathare United Nairobi Kasarani Stadium 60,000
Muhoroni Youth Muhoroni Muhoroni Stadium 5,000
Nakumatt Nairobi Moi International Sports Complex. 30,000
Nzoia United Bungoma Kanduyi Stadium 5,000
Posta Rangers Eldoret Kipchoge Keino Stadium 10,000
Sofapaka Machakos Kenyatta Stadium 30,000
Sony Sugar Awendo Green Stadium 5,000
Thika United Thika Thika Municipal Stadium 15,000
Tusker Nairobi Kasarani Stadium 60,000
Ulinzi Stars Nakuru Afraha Stadium 8,200
Western Stima Kakamega Bukhungu Stadium 5,000
Zoo Kericho Kericho Green Stadium 3,000

Head coaches

Head coaches in the league are involved in the regular running of their teams, including the training, team selection and player acquisition. Their influence and popularity varies from club-to-club and is related to the ownership of the club and the relationship of the manager with fans.

Team Head coach
A.F.C. Leopards Kenya Ezekiel Akwana
Bandari Kenya Ken Odhiambo
Chemelil Sugar Kenya Francis Baraza
Gor Mahia Brazil José Marcelo Ferreira
Kakamega Homeboyz Kenya Mike Muiruri
Kariobangi Sharks Kenya William Muluya
Mathare United Kenya Francis Kimanzi
Muhoroni Youth Kenya John Ogolla
Nakumatt Kenya Benard Achieng
Nzoia Kenya Benard Mwalala
Posta Rangers Kenya Zedekiah Otieno
Sofapaka Kenya David Ouma
Sony Sugar Kenya Salim Babu
Thika United Kenya James Nandwa
Tusker Uganda Paul Nkata
Ulinzi Stars Kenya Robert Matano
Western Stima Kenya Henry Omino
Zoo Kericho Kenya Sammy Okoth

Previous winners

Source: RSSSF – Kenya – List of champions

Total titles won

Club Winners Winning years
Gor Mahia 15 1968, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2015
A.F.C. Leopards 12 1966, 1967, 1970,1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1998
Tusker 11 1972, 1977, 1978, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2016
Ulinzi Stars 4 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
Luo Union 2 1964, 1975
Nakuru AllStars 1963, 1969
Oserian 2001, 2002
Feisal 1 1965
Mathare United 2008
Sofapaka 2009
Sony Sugar 2006
Utalii 1997

Top scorers in recent seasons

"This man was a like a lion my friend, he had no mercy with goalkeepers. Most of them used to run away from goal when they see him because he would kill you with the shots. There was no joke. He was on fire. Leave the kids of nowadays alone; you score only 12 goals and you're top scorer? Our days were tough."

– Joe Kadenge speaking in October 2010 on his days as a player with Maurice Ochieng.[5]

The league record for most goals scored in one season is currently held by Maurice Ochieng, who completed the 1976 season with 26 goals for Gor Mahia.[6] His former teammate, Joe Kadenge, praised him as a lethal striker in front of goal.[5]

Year Player Club Goals
2012 Kenya Alicanos Luke Sofapaka 18
2013 Kenya Jacob Keli Kenya Commercial Bank 17
2014 Uganda Dan Sserunkuma Gor Mahia 16
2015 Kenya Jesse Were Tusker 22
2016 Kenya John Makwata Ulinzi Stars 15

See also

References

  1. ↑ "KPL now Tusker PL in Sh170m deal". 98.4 Capital FM. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Puma deal for Premier League". SuperSport.com. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "SportPesa are new sponsors of Kenyan Premier League". Goal.com. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "New SportPesa Premier League trophy unveiled". Kenyan Premier League. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 Dennis Machio (24 October 2010). "Kenya's all time top scorer Maurice Sonyi honored". Retrieved 15 July 2012. (Portion of Joe Kadenge quote translated from Swahili)
  6. ↑ James Waindi. "Sonyi fears his son Ochieng' will down Gor Mahia". Retrieved 15 July 2012.
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