Kenyan Side Wazito Rules Out Salary Cuts For Players

Kenyan topflight side Wazito FC has ruled out slashing of players and staff salary amid the coronavirus crisis.

Football activities in the country have been suspended as a result of the spread of the virus, which has so far claimed six lives. Several clubs have cut players and staff salaries by at least 30% due to financial difficulties they are currently experiencing due to lack of proper income-generating facilities.

Wazito boss Ricardo ‘Don’ Badoer on Tuesday explained the decision why the club management would not touch the players and staff salaries.

“My thinking is that when you have people working for you, you cannot decide not to pay them because there is a virus in the world, it would be very unfair for me to pull such a move. They have families, they need to put food on the table and as such, I have to consider their welfare too,” Don told Wazito portal.

“My company is an international company, we have a huge number of people working for us and in Kenya alone, we have employed around 65 people. If I decide not to pay them because of the virus, their families will suffer because they cannot do any other job right now. I am showing solidarity and responsibility by paying them all their dues during this difficult period,” he added.

Don, a Swedish investment banker, acquired Wazito in December 2018 and has since transformed the club to be one of the best managed team across the East Africa region.

His upcoming projects include establishing a youth football academy to offer European standards training for children from age of 6 as well as a UEFA category 4 stadium.

The 2018/19 National Super League champions are currently placed 13th on the KPL table with 20 points from the 23 matches played.