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‘Not even a football club’ – Man Utd fans fume as Avram Glazer downplays impact of sporting success

Avram Glazer just made some pretty damning comments about Manchester United and it's not a good sign for the future.

After a spectacular 3-2 comeback win over Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night, morale among Manchester United fans is just slightly above rock bottom following what has otherwise been a dismal season.

As it stands, United are 17th in both the Premier League and Champions League tables, but Glazer doesn't appear to be all that bothered if his latest comments are anything to go by.

In a rare speaking appearance at Deutsche Bank’s inaugural Sports Investment Conference in London, Glazer said, as per The Athletic, that United's commercial value is incubated from the effects of sporting variance, comparing it to other major sports team like the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys, who are global brands as well as teams.

Essentially, it seems he was suggesting that, as long as United are selling tickets and merchandise, the club is a commercial success regardless of whatever is happening on the pitch.

And that is why his comparison to both the Yankees and the Cowboys is even better than he may have intended, with both franchises, like United, struggling to live up to their big names in recent years.

The Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl this century, last lifting the trophy in 1995, while the Yankees last won a World Series in 2009, yet both have huge historical success that have made them huge brands often seen in merchandise bought by people who have likely never watched a match.

It is worth noting that, when Glazer made these comments back in September, United were struggling but hadn't quite hit the depths that they have fallen to in recent weeks.

Over the past few weeks, United head coach Michael Carrick has gone from one of the most popular figures in the Premier League to the most likely to be sacked, while chants against the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe continue to be heard during every home game.

And it's not like the club is thriving financially, with the latest records listing United's financial debt at £689m as of June 2026 (a £52m increase from 2025).

Understandably, Glazer's claims and the apparent lack of care or remorse for the current state of affairs hasn't exactly gone down well with fans online.

Shortly after the comments were made public, popular Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge took to social media to call out his fellow fans for enabling this kind of an attitude to the club's value.

Posting on X, he wrote: "Keep buying tickets, shirts and supporting sponsors and this is what happens. Its at a point where they are making record profits when we are shit. Not even a football club anymore."

Another angry fan added: "Deluded rat. This is ultimately Glazer openly letting it be known their bottom line is the club can deteriorate to whatever level it wants but it won’t impact their valuation.

"This is why I hope we get relegated. That is the closest to defaulting on bank loans they’d get."

November 5, 2026
Equity Bank Discloses Billions Disbursed to Businesses, Farmers and Students

Equity Group Holdings has disclosed a KSh99.5 billion investment in social impact and sustainability initiatives in 2025, alongside KSh404 billion in loans extended to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).The figures were published in the Group’s 2025 Sustainability Report released on Thursday, November 5, detailing its financing and development programmes across Kenya and other regional markets.

November 5, 2026
Earthquake in Tanzania’s Geita Region and Rwanda sends tremors across Kenya

Listen to articleAudio reading is not supported on this browser.ReadyThanks for listening. Continue with a related story, or tap the speaker icon on the next page to listen.Latest storyHigh Court dismisses suit challenging Sakaja’s CBD cabro projectsCarolyne Kubwa · 11 minutes ago

November 5, 2026
Bayern-Ajax ticket frenzy as cheapest seats sell out in two hours

Tickets for the much-anticipated Bayern Munich versus Ajax Amsterdam match at the Raila Odinga International Stadium have begun selling out, with the cheapest categories exhausted barely two hours after sales opened on Thursday evening.

Tickets priced at Sh2,500, Sh3,500 and Sh5,000 were already marked as sold out by 9 pm, after the official online sales platform, talantasportscity.com, opened at 7 pm.

The early sellout signals strong demand for the historic fixture scheduled for January 5, 2027.

Fans seeking to attend the match will now have to dig deeper into their pockets, with the remaining tickets going for Sh15,000 and Sh20,000, alongside VIP packages.

As of 9pm, the Sh15,000 category had 731 seats remaining, while the Sh20,000 category had 1,792 seats available.

The VIP section had only 113 seats left.

The figures were displayed on the official Talanta Sports City ticketing platform, where supporters can select their preferred seating sections and complete purchases online.

The rapid depletion of cheaper tickets comes as excitement builds around the opening of the Sh45 billion stadium, which will host the high-profile encounter between the German and Dutch football giants.

The match is expected to be one of the biggest international football spectacles staged in Kenya, bringing together two of Europe's most decorated clubs.

Organisers had announced that tickets would be sold exclusively through the official Talanta Sports City website, with prices initially starting at Sh2,500.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya had earlier urged supporters to use authorised channels, warning against fraudsters who could exploit the high demand to sell fake or invalid tickets.

“Supporters are encouraged to secure their tickets within the announced sales windows. We urge all fans to purchase tickets exclusively through official channels and make payments only to verified accounts to avoid fraudulent transactions,” Mvurya said.

Organisers have also cautioned fans against purchasing tickets from unauthorised individuals or third-party platforms, insisting that the official website remains the designated sales channel.

The January 5 encounter will mark the inaugural football match at the newly constructed stadium, which is expected to become one of the country's premier sporting and entertainment venues.

Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam have won a combined 10 European Cup and Champions League titles, adding to the significance of the fixture for football enthusiasts.

The match will also give Kenyan fans an opportunity to watch two of Europe's leading football institutions on home soil as the country steps up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

Beyond the football encounter, organisers are planning a broader entertainment experience around the opening, including a 12-hour fan festival featuring international performers, hospitality packages and other activities.

Bayern Munich officials have previously described the Nairobi fixture as an opportunity to strengthen the club's relationship with its growing African fan base and expand its international reach.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 8.15pm, with gates expected to open at 11am to allow supporters to access the stadium and participate in the day's activities.

November 5, 2026
Bodaboda challenges require multi-sectoral approach, says philanthropist Captain Ndanu

Machakos boda boda operators' challenges cannot be solved by one office or one crackdown, philanthropist and Machakos Woman Representative aspirant Captain Irene Ndanu has said.

Speaking during a meeting with riders in Athi River, Mavoko Constituency on Thursday, Ndanu said the sector needs a multi-sectoral approach bringing together riders, county government, national government, security agencies, health insurers and financial institutions.

"Today, we are here in Mavoko for a bodaboda initiative which is starting today. We are familiarizing with bodaboda riders through their chairmen from stage to stage in all wards within the sub-county; Athi River, Mlolongo, Kinanie and Muthwani wards," Ndanu said.

Ndanu, who arrived at the meeting wearing a helmet and a reflector vest branded with her name, said she was traversing the county familiarising herself with riders and their real challenges, not just to seek votes.

She said the meetings were meant to understand the riders and their challenges, as well as what they expect from her.

The philanthropist said she was also sensitising the boda boda riders on the roles and responsibilities of various institutions, including government offices and political leaders such as the Woman Representative.

"The program will address safety and work with security forces in Machakos, and also look into health issues affecting riders and their families," she said.

She questioned what happens when a rider is injured on duty.

"What happens when a rider is injured? Do they have insurance? Who takes care of their family when they cannot work? These are the questions we must answer if we are serious about this sector," she said.

Ndanu said most riders are young men who are the sole breadwinners for their families, yet they operate without medical cover, without social protection, and with little training on road safety.

She said the empowerment initiative will work through stage chairmen, to ensure it reaches genuine operators and is not hijacked by brokers.

"The goal is to improve their livelihoods rather than just seek votes. We will work stage to stage through their chairman," she said.

The riders, who turned up in matching yellow vests and rode in a convoy through Mavoko town, raised concerns over harassment, high cost of fuel and spare parts, lack of designated stages, insecurity at night, and lack of access to affordable loans to own motorcycles.

Ndanu said safety must be handled jointly by NTSA, police and county askaris, while health and insurance require partnerships with SHA, insurers and SACCOs. Financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, she added, would help riders move from daily survival to owning assets and starting other businesses.

"Football is not just a 90-minute game. It teaches discipline, builds teamwork and creates economic opportunities," she has previously said about her youth programmes, adding that the same discipline is needed in the boda boda sector.

Ndanu, a commercial pilot who spent 22 years in aviation, has in recent months rolled out youth empowerment programmes in Machakos, including the Captain Irene Ndanu Soccer Summit involving 480 teams and over 9,600 players, and Glam on Wheels vocational training for 800 youth.

She told the riders that the boda boda sector, if well organised, can be a source of decent jobs and not a source of crime.

Mlolongo – Syokimau Bodaboda Association chairman Alex Mutuku said the majority of riders cannot afford medical covers despite being exposed to dangers on the roads.

Mutuku said the majority of riders are on loans, and the motorbikes belong to creditors.

"They need financial empowerment. The driving licence for motorbikes is expensive for our riders in relation to how much they earn in a day. The road network generally, especially here in Mavoko, is in bad condition, contributing to regular breakdown of motorbikes, therefore anything small earned by riders ends up buying spares and repairs," Mutuku said.

November 5, 2026
Kajiado students benefit from Sh2.75m in education funding

Fifty five students from economically disadvantaged households in Kajiado County have received scholarships worth Sh50,000 each annually to help them access and complete university, college and technical training.

The scholarships, awarded through the Kipeto Community Development Trust (KCDT), target financial barriers that often force young people to delay, interrupt or abandon their education.

The beneficiaries, drawn from 11 sublocations across Kajiado West, Kajiado East and Kajiado Central, will receive Sh50,000 annually to support their studies.

The programme gives priority to orphans, persons with disabilities and students from low-income households, with five beneficiaries selected from each sub-location.

Selection involved Area Development Committees and KCDT and Kipeto staff. Applicants were required to present admission letters from their respective institutions, while interviews were conducted in areas where applications exceeded the available slots.

KCDT director Stephen Moiko said the financial support was aimed at ensuring that young people from vulnerable households are not locked out of higher education because of their families' economic circumstances.

"Education is one of the most impactful investments we can make in our communities. We want to ensure that financial challenges do not prevent deserving young people from achieving their dreams," Moiko said.

He said the trust would monitor the beneficiaries' academic progress and follow their transition into employment, further education and other opportunities after graduation.

Janet Sereu of the Ministry of Education in Kajiado county said the initiative would complement government efforts to expand access to education, particularly among vulnerable learners.

The scholarships are funded through proceeds from the Kipeto Wind Farm, which the trust channels into community development programmes.

KCDT said it had also put in place a monitoring mechanism to track students' academic progress and provide support throughout their education.

The programme seeks to extend the benefits of the wind energy project beyond electricity generation by directing part of its proceeds towards education and other community needs.

November 5, 2026
KRA hits Sh1 trillion revenue mark a month earlier than previous years

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has surpassed the Sh1 trillion mark in revenue collection, raising Sh1.010 trillion by the end of October 2026, a milestone achieved a month earlier than in previous financial years.

In a statement, the tax agency said the achievement reflected improved revenue mobilisation and a positive trajectory in collections as it seeks to meet its annual revenue targets.

KRA also exceeded its October 2026 revenue target, collecting Sh260.630 billion against a target of Sh258.304 billion, representing a growth of 15.5 per cent compared to the same period in the 2025/2026 financial year.

The authority attributed the performance to improved collections across key revenue streams, with Customs recording its highest-ever monthly revenue collection in its history.

Customs collected Sh94.793 billion in October, representing an 11.3 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in the previous financial year.

Corporation Tax collections stood at Sh23.932 billion, with four key sectors accounting for approximately 81 per cent of the total collections.

The sectors included electricity, manufacturing, transportation and wholesale, which continued to contribute significantly to corporate tax revenue.

KRA also reported improved performance in Domestic Excise Duty, which surpassed its target for the first time in an extended period, recording a surplus of Sh945 million and growth of 54.1 per cent.

Domestic Value Added Tax (VAT) collections also exceeded the October target by Sh45 million, reaching Sh33.367 billion and registering growth of 22.1 per cent.

The authority attributed the growth in domestic VAT to increased remittances from manufacturers of keg beer, premium beer, wine and spirits, as well as tobacco products.

Collections from premium beer, wine and spirits, and tobacco recorded respective growth rates of 43.5 per cent, 110.8 per cent and 94.1 per cent, while keg beer recorded growth of 0.3 per cent.

The improved revenue performance comes amid government efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation and reduce reliance on borrowing to finance public expenditure.

KRA thanked taxpayers for supporting the revenue collection drive, saying their compliance remained critical to sustaining economic development.

“KRA appreciates all taxpayers for remaining committed to honouring their tax obligations and supporting Kenya's economic sustainability and development,” the authority said.

November 5, 2026
Treasury: e-Citizen to go offline twice in November for scheduled maintenance

Kenyans using the e-Citizen platform should brace for temporary service interruptions on two weekends in November as the government undertakes scheduled maintenance and system upgrades.

The National Treasury, through the Government Digital Payments Department, has announced that the platform will be unavailable or have limited access for seven hours on each of the two occasions.

In a public notice issued by Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, the first maintenance exercise will run from 10 pm on Saturday, November 7, to 5 am on Sunday, November 8.

The second interruption is scheduled for the same hours, from Saturday, November 14, to Sunday, November 15.

The Treasury said the exercise is intended to upgrade the system, improve performance and strengthen security while ensuring the continued reliability of government digital services.

“The National Treasury, through the Government Digital Payments Department, wishes to notify members of the public, stakeholders, and all system users that scheduled maintenance will be undertaken on the e-Citizen Platform to facilitate system upgrades, improve performance, enhance security, and ensure the continued reliability of services,” the notice stated.

During the maintenance windows, users may experience temporary service interruptions or limited access to the platform and its associated services.

The government has advised Kenyans to plan their transactions in advance, particularly those seeking urgent government services that require online payments or applications.

“Users are therefore advised to plan accordingly and, where possible, complete any urgent transactions before the commencement of the maintenance exercise,” the notice added.

The interruptions could affect members of the public seeking to access services hosted on the platform, including applications, renewals and payments processed through government agencies.

The e-Citizen platform serves as a central digital gateway through which Kenyans access and pay for a wide range of government services, reducing the need to visit physical offices.

The government has increasingly relied on the platform to digitise public services and centralise payments, with users required to make transactions through the approved digital payment system.

The Treasury said the maintenance was necessary to improve service delivery and strengthen the platform's reliability, amid growing dependence on digital channels for accessing government services.

“The National Treasury regret any inconvenience this interruption may cause and appreciates the public's patience and understanding as we undertake this exercise to improve service delivery,” Kiptoo said in the notice.

The department did not specify which individual government services would be affected during the maintenance periods or whether all services would be completely inaccessible.

Users who have pending applications or payments are therefore encouraged to complete them before the scheduled downtime rather than wait until the maintenance windows.

The Treasury said the exercise was part of efforts to ensure the platform continues to provide secure and reliable services to the public.

November 5, 2026
KEMI partners with EIDU to equip school heads, teachers with digital skills

School heads and teachers are set to receive training in digital learning tools and data management under a new three-year partnership aimed at improving literacy and numeracy in public schools.

The agreement between the Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI) and education programmes implementor EIDU seeks to strengthen the use of technology in school management, classroom instruction and assessment as the government continues rolling out Competency-Based Education (CBE).

The partnership, signed at KEMI headquarters in Nairobi, will incorporate digital learning and assessment tools into KEMI's national training programmes for heads of institutions, deputy heads, education managers and Boards of Management.

KEMI chief executive Maurice Odondo said the partnership would help address gaps in foundational learning by equipping school leaders and teachers with the skills needed to improve learning outcomes.

“As we speak today, the foundational level of education in this country has not received full attention. Working together, we will be able to address that gap, so that learners move to upper primary and finally to senior school well grounded,” he said.

Odondo said effective school leadership was critical in ensuring that education reforms translated into better classroom outcomes.

“When the school leader is well prepared, all other issues fall properly in place,” he said, adding that collaboration among education sector players was necessary to achieve meaningful reforms.

“When we pull together and co-create, we will be able to transform this sector in a more meaningful way,” he said.

Under the agreement, KEMI will provide trainers, training facilities and access to its national network of school leaders while jointly developing and delivering programmes with EIDU.

The institute will also oversee the endorsement or accreditation of programmes developed under the partnership.

EIDU will provide technical support, curriculum-aligned digital content, access to its learning platforms and data systems, as well as training for KEMI facilitators.

EIDU managing director Fredrick Seda said the partnership would help extend practical lessons from classrooms to school leadership training across the country.

“Every day we see what becomes possible when a teacher has the right tools and timely data on each child. KEMI reaches the leaders of every school in this country. By working alongside KEMI, we can help make sure those lessons reach the head teacher in a rural school as much as one in the city,” he said.

The collaboration comes as the education sector seeks to strengthen instructional leadership, continuous assessment and evidence-based decision-making under the Competency-Based Education system.

The 2023 report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform recommended the retooling of teachers to equip them with skills required under the new curriculum.

EIDU's digital learning programme currently reaches about 790,000 learners in 12,700 public schools across 32 counties, working with county governments and the Ministry of Education.

An independent randomised controlled trial conducted in Kenyan pre-primary classrooms and published in the journal Research Papers in Education in 2026 found that learners using EIDU's programme recorded learning gains equivalent to about six additional months within one school year.

A joint steering committee, led by the KEMI chief executive and EIDU managing director, will oversee implementation, approve annual work plans and monitor progress.

The agreement will run for three years, until November 2029, with a mid-term review scheduled after 18 months.

November 5, 2026
West Pokot ready to host 2026 KICOSCA Games

The 13th edition of the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) Games will be held in West Pokot County from November 22-29, with organisers revealing preparations are on course.

KICOSCA chairman John Angawa said Kapenguria and Makutano towns will host the week-long competition, with Makutano Stadium staging the opening and closing ceremonies.

Other events will be held at Kapenguria High School, Tartar Girls and neighbouring schools, while golf and squash competitions will take place at Kitale Club in neighbouring Trans Nzoia County.

“We have inspected the playing fields, indoor halls and accommodation facilities twice. We are impressed with the progress of renovations of some of the facilities. We shall make final inspections on November 18,” said Angawa. This year’s theme is “Promoting National Cohesion and Peaceful Co-existence through Sports and Culture”.

Angawa said the competition will also serve as a selection platform for Team Kenya ahead of the East Africa Local Authorities Sports and Cultural Association (EALASCA) Games, which will be staged either in Kampala, Uganda, or Kigali, Rwanda.

He revealed that Wajir County will make its debut at this year’s competition, with organisers expecting more than 40 counties to participate, up from 39 last year.

The organisers have also introduced men’s netball and goalball for visually impaired athletes to broaden participation. County employees will compete in football, volleyball, golf, basketball, netball, handball, darts, athletics, pool, chess, scrabble and tug-of-war. The programme will also feature cultural and performing arts competitions.

West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin welcomed all 47 counties to the region, saying more than 15,000 participants are expected at the annual showpiece.

Kachapin, who chairs the Council of Governors’ Committee on Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services, described the games as an important platform for promoting national unity, peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity among counties. He urged officials involved in organising the competition to uphold high standards of integrity and accountability, noting that the event had grown into a critical inter-county initiative.

November 5, 2026