Azam TV to air three FKFPL matches this weekend

Tanzanian broadcaster Azam TV is set to air three FKF Premier League Round Seven matches live this weekend.

The move, confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, will see the league’s television partner air its first set of games after opening up the scene by beaming the 94th edition of the Mashemeji Derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards on Saturday 7 October 2023.

The matches - all scheduled at the Nyayo National Stadium - will include: KCB FC against Ulinzi Stars on Saturday 21 October from 1600 EAT, Kariobangi Sharks against Muhoroni Youth on Sunday 22 October from 1300 EAT, and the biggest game of the weekend - Tusker FC against defending champions Gor Mahia on Sunday from 1600 EAT.

All matches, as per the communique, will be aired live on Azam’s select channel - Azam Sports 3 HD.

The Football Kenya Federation on 31 August 2023 entered into a seven year partnership with the Tanzanian-based Pay TV station, handing it exclusive broadcast rights for an initial fee of $1 million (Ksh.145 million ) a year, with each season seeing the amount rise by $100,000 (Ksh.14.5 million).

This will be the first time the league will enjoy television coverage in two years, coming after Chinese company Startimes, who had partnered with the league, bolted out a year into the deal thanks to FKF’s disbandment.

Azam did air a couple of games last season as part of a trial phase and venture into the Kenyan market, when they broadcasted two FKF Premier League games; Tusker FC vs Kariobangi Sharks on 13 May 2023 and the Mashemeji Derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards on 14 May.

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The news will be a welcome sight for all Kenyan football lovers after several months of doubt, and will mark a new dawn for the game.

While signing the deal in August, Azam Chief Operations Officer Yahya Mohamed lauded the partnership with the Kenyan top-tier league saying: "To us, this is a big milestone as Azam Media. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary since we started, and we are now back in Kenya to air the league. It is a great honour to sign this deal with FKF. We will air matches in HD, and our customers can watch the games through our decoders and mobile apps. We are bringing the quality that you have been seeing in Tanzania".

Azam is not foreign to the Kenyan market, as it aired the Kenyan second-tier league in 2015.

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It remains to be seen how the league plans to schedule matches going forward, with Yahya proposing then, that "the best value for the league" would spring from matches being aired in the evening or at night.

Azam TV currently airs the Tanzania Football Federation Mainland Tanzania Premier League, and in May 2021, signed a deal worth 10.48 billion Kenya shillings for a period of 10 years.

They are also set to air all matches of the inaugural edition of the African Football League.

FKF PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 7

Saturday.

1500: (2.05) Bidco United (3.05) Murang'a Seal (3.80)

1500: (1.80) KCB (3.25) Ulinzi Stars (4.60)

1500: (4.60) Sofapaka (3.25) Kenya Police (1.80)

1500: (3.40) Talanta FC (3.00) Posta Rangers (2.20)

Sunday.

1300: Kariobangi Sharks vs Muhoroni Youth

1500: (2.70) Tusker (2.85) Gor Mahia (2.80)

1500: Shabana vs Nairobi City Stars

1500: Nzoia Sugar vs Kakamega Homeboyz

1500: Bandari vs AFC Leopards.