Sources close to Nakuru city queens have revealed that the team had secured a sponsor through the county’s sports department.

However, Mtaa Wangu has learnt that the team’s management botched the sponsorship, after submitting an over-quote of the team members.

“Nakuru City Queens had secured a sponsorship opportunity with Royal Group Limited which was committed to supporting the team. Unfortunately, when called upon to submit the number of players, the technical bench members, and the coaches, those in charge led by the CEO got greedy and gave an inflated number of people,” they said.

Read: How a love for Messi birthed Nakuru City Queens' top scorer

Speaking on the allegations, Nakuru County Sports CEC Josephine Achieng’ says that the Club’s CEO during talks brought out numbers that exceeded what they presently had, adding that he also brought in more officials.

Sports CEC Ms Josephine Achieng (centre) during a rugby press briefing at Nakuru Athletics Club.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“The club CEO talked of having 40 players and 17 officials, a thing that discredited them with the sponsors,” she says.

Our source reveals that the team has 20 players, six technical bench members and three coaches.

On his end, Mr Esitoko defends himself saying he did not submit an over-quote as claimed.

“FKF only registers 30 players, this means I could only submit those we had registered. In any case, if I am being accused of submitting an over-quote it is because I submitted a proposal saying both registered and unregistered players were 100. But that is the truth,” he adds.

He insists that, the budget proposal which stood at close to Sh 28 million annually was realistic, with every penny accounted for.

Also Read: It's a dog's life for City Queens off the pitch

In response to the coach exiting the team on allegations of unprofessionalism, Mr Esitoko denies the claims saying he has had the interest of the girls at heart, having spent most of his fortune to sustain the team.

“Talks of the coach leaving based on a training schedule difference are not true. To my knowledge, he left since he had a pending disciplinary issue after he verbally abused a sports county official during one of the sports events,” says Mr Esitoko

In addition, Esitoko said he was not out to make money through the players.

“As for the FKF women’s cup Sh 250,000 prize money, I gave the coach Sh 10,000, Sh 3,500 to our senior players and Sh 3,000 to junior players. The remaining amount was spent on clearing pending bills,” he explains.

Despite the attempt to clear his name, Esitoko seems to have left a bad taste in the county sports department’s mouth.

Related: Forsaken queens: The rot within Nakuru city queens football team

“The county is willing to help the team secure another sponsor in this financial year. However, this can only be done on conditions that we are not dealing with the club’s CEO Mr. Esitoko as his conduct is questionable,” says Sports CEC, Ms Achieng.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Tomorrow, Royal Group speaks on why they suspended the sponsorship deal

Forsaken queens: How Nakuru city queens management botched life-changing sponsorship deal

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