Politician and businessman Suleiman Shahbal has dismissed claims that he has withdrawn his sponsorship of newly promoted Kenya Premier League side Mombasa United, insisting he remains committed to the club’s growth.
Shahbal’s remarks come after club president Abdirahman Hussein, popularly known as Anza Fresh, and Chief Executive Officer Nick Arunga indicated that the club was exploring alternative sponsorship options following Shahbal’s reported exit.
Speaking to journalists during the launch of the second edition of the Shahbal Super Cup at Serani Sports Ground in Mombasa, Shahbal maintained that he had no intention of abandoning the club, which he said he helped build from the grassroots to the top flight.
“We started Mombasa United from the grassroots to the Premier League, and that was our objective. Why should I leave now? This is my team; it is our team, and Anza Fresh has built it. These stories that I have withdrawn my sponsorship are not true,” said Shahbal.
He further revealed that the club’s leadership was engaging potential sponsors, dismissing claims of a fallout between him and the club’s management.
“President Anza Fresh and I are working together for the team. We met with the SportPesa chairman in Dubai, and he promised to support us. We are still in communication with Azam, and we hope to secure sponsorship there as well. We are in good terms,” he added.
Shahbal also took issue with politicians he accused of attempting to introduce divisions into the club, urging them to stay away from its affairs and allow the team to focus on its football ambitions.
“All those politicians bringing politics to the team, where were they when we were struggling? Now that the team is the talk of the town, they are trying to bring fights into the team. Kindly keep politics out of Mombasa United,” Shahbal said.
The businessman also challenged the Mombasa County Government to invest in the club, arguing that its participation in the top flight provides an opportunity to promote the county while nurturing local football talent.
Meanwhile, the second edition of the Shahbal Super Cup is scheduled to kick off in November, with teams competing from the ward level. The overall county winner is set to pocket one million shillings, alongside other prizes.
Shahbal expressed optimism that the tournament would provide a pathway for emerging talent and potentially produce another club capable of competing in the Kenya Premier League.
“This second edition of the Super Cup will produce the next Kenya Premier League team in Mombasa, and we will name it Mombasa City, just like in Manchester, where we have Manchester City and Manchester United. We will have Mombasa United and Mombasa City in the KPL,” he said.
“To our Mombasa youth, this is your opportunity to shine, just like in the first edition. Register your teams, and let’s do it,” he added.
On his part, Mombasa FKF chairman Alamin Ahmed Abdalla welcomed the return of the tournament, saying it would help elevate football standards in the coastal region and create opportunities for more local clubs to reach the top tier.
“Just as we did and got a team to the KPL, we will do the same in this edition and push for another team to the top league,” said Abdalla.