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Ingwe are staring at a drastic reduction in their gate collection once they move to the KDF-owned 1,000-seater stadium next season
AFC Leopards will shift their home base to Ulinzi Complex following news that Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums will be closed for renovation.
Sports Kenya has invited tenders for the upgrading and renovation of the two facilities, alongside Kipchoge Keino Stadium, to meet CAF and FIFA standards as Kenya begins preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations if the EAC Pamoja Bid alongside Uganda and Tanzania succeeds.
That means both stadiums will be unavailable indefinitely and with Nyayo Stadium having been Leopards home venue, they are forced to look for an alternative, which club chairman Dan Shikanda has termed a setback.
“I wish they could have closed one and left the other because as it stands, the Ulinzi Complex remains the only viable option but it will be overwhelmed,” Shikanda told Pulse Sports.
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The two facilities in Nairobi alongside Eldoret’s Kipchoge Keino are set for a major facelift in readiness for the 2027 tournament if EAC Pamoja Bid is successful.
“We have tried to talk to Sports Kenya because they have caught us off guard. We have also asked the federation to intervene so that they allow us to use one as they renovate another but closing both at once is a major setback.
“Our only alterative in Nairobi now is Uinzi Complex but we have nine Premier League teams in Nairobi which will pose a major challenge.”
The decision to shift base will also hit teams with a big fanbase like Leopards and Gor Mahia hard with Shikanda already projection losses from gate collection.
“Our fans were so used to Nyayo Stadium. The stadium could also host a big number of fans but now, we will be hit hard because our gate collection will drastically reduce,” added Shikanda of the 1,000-seater venue.
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Ingwe's plans were thrown into disarray after the previous occupant of the position resigned.
With Ulinzi Complex being earmarked as the easiest possible alternative venue by a number of teams, FKF might be forced to change a number of fixtures to avoid clashing on matchday. If not, some teams will be forced to play home matches away from Nairobi which will eat into their budgets.
“If you look at the new fixtures for next season, the opening weekend we have Gor Mahia, Kariobangi Sharks, AFC Leopards, Nairobi City Stars and Posta Rangers having home matches. All these matches are kicking off at the same time. So, teams could be forced to take some matches to Narok and Meru which is an extra cost,” said Shikanda.
Ulinzi Complex has been the home venue of Ulinzi Stars since it was commissioned by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in April 2022.
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