Express FC, Equity Bank enter partnership

Chairman Express Football Club Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Executive director Equity bank Anthony Kituuka With an Express FC jersey after signing the one year partnership

Express FC and Equity Bank have entered a sh100m partnership as the appointment of new club chairman Kiryowa Kiwanuka begins to bear fruit.

The partnership - and both parties stressed that term as opposed to sponsorship - was unveiled early today at Church House, with no shortage of complementary predictions about the brightness of Express' future.

"Express has started its journey to recovery and it starts with this partnership with Equity Bank," said Kiwanuka, who delivered a typically oratorical performance that promised a league title in the next two seasons.

For Equity Bank managing director Anthony Kituuka, "The Equity Express train has left the station and everyone should feel free to join the bandwagon".

 CEO Express FC Hamzah Jjunju , Chairman Express Football Club Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Executive director Equity Bank Anthony Kituuka and the Head of Operations Equity Bank Kenneth Onyango addressing journalists. PHOTO: Richard Sanya

The direct financial benefits to Express from the sh100 one-year deal were not divulged, with Kituuka saying, "It depends on how well Express fulfil the targets we have set them. The better they perform, the more money they will receive".

Another key revelation was the launch of the Equity Express Card, which will cost sh50, 000 and will allow the owner to watch all of Express Premier League home games. It will also be able to act as a regular credit card with all the attendant uses.

Express survived relegation on the last day last season but Kiryowa insists the team must not finish lower than fourth this year.

"We have even set our target low," Kiryowa answered, when asked if he was not putting his team under unnecessary pressure.

"Ideally we should be playing for the title".

The Red Eagles have six league titles, the last coming 2012.