Just what's the prize of winning Kenya's top soccer league trophy? Reports indicate that this year’s Champions were to pocket KES 10 million in prize money, KES 6.5 million more than the Champions in the 2011 competition, who took home KES 3.5 million. Tusker Premier League Limited (TPL) CEO Jack Oguda said in an interview with futaa.com that he’s still negotiating with the governing council on the prize money increment. "What I have been trying to push is to see whether the chairmen, who make a decision in terms of budget and allocations, can increase the prize money, but it sounds like it won’t be this year, may be next season," he said.

Let's assume everything stands as it is now.

Tusker FC, this year's champions took home KES 3.5 Million, which is broken down as follows: KES 1.5 million as outright prize money; KES 1.5 million to fund their Champions League budget; and KES 0.5 million as part of the league’s ranking payment reward.

Sponsorship

Tusker Premier League, which used to be Kenya Premier League changed the name after East African Breweries Limited (EABL) brewed a mature three year sponsorship deal worth KES 170 Million until 2015. According to the agreement between the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), 70% of the sponsorship was meant to be distilled directly to the 16 teams that constitute the championship.

The sponsorship deal will run for three years spread out into KES 55 million, KES 57 million and KES 58 million but the emphasis is investing more into clubs to help the league grow. Sources have also said that the football league could land another sponsor, Kit company PUMA. That would imply more money floating within the league to the effect that could possibly intensify actions on every other soccer pitch within the country.

The Twelfth Man

Football clubs in the league have various other avenues through which money comes through to them, one of which is through support from the twelfth man; Just call them fans. They will purchase match day tickets to fan their teams and that will ensure that their clubs get something from gate collections. VIP tickets sell at KES 500 and it will cost KES 300 to be at the terraces and KES 0 for a few gate-crashers here and there.

As a sign of absolute commitment, the twelfth man has to get four jerseys, a home and away jersey. Buying original club replica jerseys is good for your club. Don't be too generic.

Tusker Vs Barclays

Comparing our TPL with the EPL tells us nothing but the plenty of work left for us to do. this is what most of us would call Ten-Nil but the thing is, meaningful progress has been felt and seen in our TPL over the last three years. So what's the situation abroad? Whoever finishes first in England's Barclays Premier League nets between £30 - £40 million (KES 4.09 Billion- KES 5.7 Billion). 

That big disparity will tell us to stop cursing our game and every stop 'throwing things' at people after losing a football match. Rather, the twelfth man should concentrate on making the league better, while the money keeps coming, because frankly the more the money, the more interesting it gets. You don't believe me? Ask Wanyama.