National team Harambee Stars will benefit from a Sh270million sponsorship deal by Star Times, Goal can reveal.

The five year deal was signed on Saturday between Football Kenya Federation and the Chinese Company according to our sources. Under the agreement as spelt out in the contract, Harambee Stars will receive Sh44, 681,00 in the first year.

This will increase to 47,138,000 in the second year and go up to Sh54, 600,000 in the third year. In 2018, the team will receive Sh59, 605,000 and another Sh64, 519,000 in 2019 when the deal lapses.

The present deal is Sh60million more than the previous deal Harambee Stars had with East African Breweries Limited. Our sources said the new deal will only cover television rights for the team and there is still room for the overall sponsor.

“In signing this deal, the sponsors have expressed plenty of confidence in the leadership of the federation and we expect that more companies will come on board to support the team,” said our source.

The current deal was initiated by MP&Silva the broadcast rights partners of the federation. Silva were also responsible for the Sh202million three year deal signed between FKF and Azam TV three weeks ago.

With the new deal in place, Harambee Stars can now comfortably take part in this year’s African Nations Championships (Chan) and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The draw for both competitions will be held this week in Cairo.

According to information on their website, Star Times is a worldwide technology company that was established in 1988 in China. The company claims to have pioneered pay tv business in China and currently has seven million subscribers.

Star Times started developing its African markets in 2002 and was issued first digital TV operator license by Rwanda in 2007. Currently StarTimes has got licenses and registered companies in ten African nations.

Till now, their operations network covers Africa, including Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Republic of Central Africa, Guinea and Kenya.

Original title by Goal: Star Times signs mega deal to sponsor Harambee Stars