Why Mwai had to quit stadium job
Updated 8 hr(s) 4 min(s) ago
http://www.eastandard.net/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144014985&cid=38&

Renegotiate Nyayo Stadium-Coke deal
Updated 8 hr(s) 49 min(s) ago
http://www.eastandard.net/sports/InsidePage.php?id=1144014976&cid=243&

I wasn’t even aware that they were changing the name of the stadium until Friday (may 22nd).

Coca Cola won an advertising tender that grants it the exclusive rights for advertising, the supply of drinks and naming rights, media e.t.c.

Now, it seems it has hit a snag all because of useless politics.

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An order from the Office of the President sealed the fate of the short-lived naming rights deal for the Nyayo National Stadium.

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The Sports Stadia Management Board had granted Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Ltd the exclusive rights in February this year, but on May 6, the Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura wrote to the Sports minister Prof Hellen Sambili informing her that President Kibaki had ordered that the Coca-Cola National Stadium reverts to its original name.

“To that effect, you are also requested to renegotiate the agreement with the Coca-Cola Company so that the change of name does not affect relations with the company,” the letter, seen by the Nation, instructed.

Flurry of meetings

After a flurry of meetings between the Sports ministry, SSMB and Coca-Cola to renegotiate a name change failed to thaw any of the sides, the giant beverage company pulled out of the Sh117 million agreement.

The deal, signed on February 4 after Coca Cola won an advertised tender, gave the company exclusive rights for advertising, beverage supply and naming rights across all elements of the stadium, including tickets and the media.

It was hailed as historic, being the first of its kind in Kenya and in line with global trends where a legitimate owner of a sports facility gives up the rights to name the facility to an independent sponsoring institution (usually a corporate body or brand) at an agreed fee and for an agreed period of time.

It was also seen as an important breakthrough for SSMB in its struggle to attain financial independence from the Treasury.

But trouble soon broke out on April 28, when Sports minister Hellen Sambili said the government was reviewing the deal.

The Minister charged that the agreement was done improperly and she only became aware of it via the media, and that the name ‘Nyayo’ could not be dropped because that would destroy the legacy of this country.

SSMB wrote to Coca-Cola on May 12 requesting for a renegotiation of the contract with a view of returning the name ‘Nyayo Stadium’, and proposed the name ‘Nyayo National Stadium, Coca-Cola Sports Centre’, but the soda company declined.

Eventually, the Coca-Cola country director Alex Madisti on Thursday announced the company’s withdrawal from the naming rights.

“The proposition put forward to us by the Minister for Sports and SSMB – to co-brand the stadium with its current and former names – is against the spirit of granting exclusive naming rights to a sponsor. We are therefore unable to perform our obligations under the contract,” Mr Maditsi said.

Ms Sambili is expected to make a ministerial statement on the saga next Thursday in Parliament.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/602016/-/ujoeay/-/index.html

anyway this is a training ground for al ahly and only used for youngesters matches and as a running track for club members.

u should have also checked the pictures of other giant and high standard stadiums we have.

Mukhtar el Tetsh Stadium
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_east/egypt/cairo_ahly.shtml

I see ridges. Is it a football ground or a potato farm? lol!