New Kenya Police boss highlights improvements Kenyan football needs to make after Tanzanian stint

Newly appointed Kenya Police head coach Francis Baraza has pinpointed the areas where Kenyan football needs to improve on if the league is to go back to its glory days witnessed in the past when it was a powerhouse in the region.

Having taken charge of his first match at Police on Monday where his side played to a barren draw against Bandari, Baraza, who has landed fresh from two coaching stints in the Tanzanian top flight where he handled Biashara United and most recently Kagera Sugar, noted that getting sponsors back on board would help Kenyan football back to its feet.

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Since 2017, the Football Kenya Federation Premier League has been feeding on scraps following the withdrawal of broadcasting partner SuperSport who contributed a big part in the growth, development and sustainability of the league. But since its exit, there has been a steady slump in the league.

“Recently, the players lost their morale because there have been no sponsors which has made our league to lose its flavor. If you try to compare it with the Tanzanian league, which I can say is one of the best currently, we need to bring the sponsors on board so that teams do not just rely on clubs.

We certainly have the talent in this country. We just need to ensure we have the sponsors. When the money is there, the league will be good. Without money, unfortunately the league will struggle,” the coach told Mozzart Sport.

Additionally, the coach, who led Sony Sugar to the 2006 Kenya Premier League title, advised that the initiative to woo sponsors should be a joint effort from the country's governing body and the government who have the ability to convince multiple partners to take up the sponsorship role.

“We need the leaders of the game starting from government to come together to bring on board the sponsors who mill make our league one of the best just like in the years before. In the Tanzanian league right now, players from foreign countries are eager and ready to play there,” he stated.