Despite the Royal Limited Group's efforts to support the troubled Nakuru City Queens women's football team through sponsorship, lack of proper structure, unprofessional communication and lack of accountability on the part of the clubs saw the deal not going through.

Commenting on the matter, former county sports director Alice Gekonde says the Royal Limited Group approached the county with a proposal to support the team with uniforms, transport and accommodation allowances.

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

She noted that the proposal included all the players affiliated to the Nakuru City Queens club, including the junior team players, bringing the number to about 100 players.

Royal Group Limited General Manager, Tom Oyier, says the plight of the girls' team was shared with them through the county and they felt it was noble to come in and offer support where they could.

Royal Group Limited General Manager, Tom Oyier.

Photo credit: COURTESY

"We were only supposed to come in and offer support for the team's jerseys, bibs, shields, food and transport. We have not yet signed the sponsorship deal with the team, nor have we received the proper documentation from the club. There are a number of things that need to be clarified before we can proceed with the sponsorship, which the team has yet to honour," he said.

"Information on whether the players on the team are contracted to the club, their sustainability plan and the structure of the management, among other things, are things they have not clarified on their side. How can we invest money if we do not know how to track its accountability? That was one of the things that kept the plans on hold," says Oyier.

The manager also made it clear that they were not in the business of publicity, after being asked why they were speaking publicly to the media about the sponsorship before understanding the dynamics of the team.

Also Read: Forsaken queens: The rot within Nakuru city queens football team

"As far as the public support for the team is concerned, the media coverage was an ambush from my side. The current Sports CECM, Madam Achieng', called me for a meeting at the office and when I arrived, I was met by the City Queen team, their officials and a group of journalists who leaked the information to the public. We were supposed to have a meeting in the office, but it turned into a sponsorship launch," he says.

While the powers that be point fingers at each other, the players who are doing their best to take Nakuru City Queens club and football in the county to greater heights are the ones who are suffering by playing some matches while going hungry and living in poor conditions.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Forsaken queens: Royal Group speak out on the real reason they had to suspend sponsorship deal

Author Spotlight

Purity Kinuthia