National Super League (NSL) side Nairobi United is set to become affiliated to the Nairobi City County Government, this after revelations emerged that the Nairobi County leadership under Governor Johnson Sakaja is at advanced stage in negotiations to have the Sakaja Foundation and the county government take over running of the team.
Nairobi United, which plays in the second division will this season be fully supported by the Sakaja Foundation and plans are on the negotiating table to have the Nairobi County Government adopt the team in the future. There is optimism at city hall that with enough resources from the Sakaja Foundation, the team will rise to become the biggest side in the league as they seek to gain promotion to the top tier Football Kenya Federation Premier League in the next season.
The Nairobi based team was formed in 2018 and earned promotion to the NSL on their first attempt after the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) awarded them their abandoned promotion playoff match against Zoo as United were leading 1-0 courtesy when the match was called off due to crowd trouble.
In less than eight years, the Nairobi-based club seems to have established themselves as a force to reckon with if their performance is anything to go by and are determined to complete their fairytale journey by securing a slot in the FKF Premier League next season.
Asked if Nairobi County has taken over Nairobi United, Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Sports Brian Mulama said that plans are underway and an announcement will be made officially in due course.
According to sources within the ranks in City Hall, the team will this season be under the foundation and with the proper legal framework put in place, the county government will later adopt the team pump in resources into making high profile signings as well as provision of vital logistics to ensure that the club’s playing unit is fully focused on winning the NSL title to gain promotion to the premier league.
Grapevine has confirmed that indeed, the Sakaja Foundation has taken up the club and will be unveiling it in the coming days. The team, is destined to be a brand associated with the county government as the county’s official football team which will play in the local league with the hope to be promoted to the FKF Premier league.
Governor Sakaja is said to be keen to support the team into promotion in the next season as a team fully owned and supported by the county government.
The team has been among the top teams in the NSL and with the latest windfall from the Sakaja foundation, analysts opine that Nairobi United will be the team to beat in the new season.
Nairobi United coach Paul Odhiambo former AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia striker has worked at the club which, as a new entity was not well known to the public before 2018. It is his Midas touch that steered the club into recognition after they gained promotion on their first attempt and has remained in top positions in the league indicating their clear intent to play with the big boys soon.big boys soon.
