Relegated Thika United lose sponsor
What you need to know:
- The Thika-based outfit, which finished bottom of the 18-team log with a meagre 23 points from 34 rounds, is willing to forge a business partnership or accept a complete takeover with any well-wisher or corporate to ensure its survival.
National Super League side Thika United face a potential financial shortfall after they lost Brookside Dairies as their shirt sponsors following their relegation from the SportPesa Premier League in the 2018 season.
The Thika-based outfit, which finished bottom of the 18-team log with a meagre 23 points from 34 rounds, is willing to forge a business partnership or accept a complete takeover with any well-wisher or corporate to ensure its survival.
Thika, formed in 2000 as Beirut FC before adopting Thika, is yet to start preparations for their opening 2018/19 NSL fixture away to Coast Stima on December 1 due to dire financial challenges.
Brookside Dairy Limited, that has been sponsoring the side for an estimated Sh15 million annually for the last 15 years, pulled out of the partnership at the end of the season.
“Brookside Dairies adopted a four-year-old and took good care of the baby, for that, it’s a big thank you from the Thika United family to the company for her support as the club walked through the journey,” the club said in a statement on their official website.
Club Managing Director Mike Muriuki appealed to well-wishers to come on board as they ponder the possibility of shifting base and even changing their name depending on the agreement they will sign with the partners they hope to attract.
The team has been reportedly mulling a shift of base to Meru under the sponsorship of the host county.
“We’ve been a success over the years with a very lean budget of between Sh10 and Sh18 million per season but we’ve managed to invest in young talents,” said Muriuki.
He added: “Our record in nurturing, growing and developing players is second to none. We believe with more funding, we can continue investing in young talents.”
Gor Mahia’s Francis Kahata, Zambia-based Cliff Miheso, Sofapaka’s Dennis Odhiambo and Japan-based Michael Olunga are some of the renown players to have come through the ranks of the Thika side.
“The difficult financial periods during the past two seasons led to a mass exodus of our players to well-paying clubs leading to a string of poor results as we were a severely weakened team,” said Muriuki.
Thika United has already lost right back Baraka Badi and midfielder Michael Mutinda who joined promoted KCB after the relegation status of their club was confirmed.
