Football this side of the Sahara has experienced stop-gap progress,
largely due to problems associated with (mis)management, non-accountability and that very African achilles heel; lack of funds.
In Kenya for instance, two of the country’s top clubs that command
massive fanatics have time and again struggled to keep their heads above the financial waters, often feeding on scraps and getting by largely on the largesse and goodwill of benefactors and sagacious politicians.
Until Sportpesa recently happened on the scene and provided a much
needed reprieve that has brought both stability and financial muscle.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Besides being shirt sponsors of giant sides Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, betting company Sportpesa is the title sponsor of the national football league, aptly named the Sportpesa Premier League and also the sponsor of the most decorated grassroot football initiative SportPesa Super 8 league which is run by Extreme sports Limited.
Lest it escapes our collective psyche, this company came in the nick of time, when previous title sponsor Tusker declined to renew its partnership with the league body, thereby almost creating a vacuum.
The beer makers opted out of the deal.
Being Kenya’s biggest clubs in terms of history, followership and titles under their belts between them, both Gor and Leopards teetered on the brink of total meltdown, straining under the heavy burden of hefty wage bills and daily operations that have since become a thing of the past with the emergence of Sportpesa.
Financial hiccups have somewhat eased off and things are quieter and smoother at these two giant club secretariats, thanks to the partnerships with the bet
company.
The trickle down effects have been massive, with monetary support
extending to other clubs in the top flight. And by venturing into rugby and spreading its wings to even bigger territories overseas, Sportpesa appears to be on a roll changing how sports has been perceived in Kenya and putting so many corporates to shame with their very encouraging endeavour to help bring both sanity and sports development.
SHENANIGANS ON NOTICE
It therefore sounds hypocritical and selfish for certain quarters to
try pour cold water on the gains Sportpesa has made as far as football
sponsorship is concerned.
It borders on absurdity that busybodies who have little or no idea about the pressures of running and ably
managing the beautiful game can put themselves on the frontline in
spewing vitriol on a sponsorship that puts bread on many a table, from
players to medics to administrators et al.
Looking at when Mumias Sugar terminated its contract prematurely with AFC Leopards and also it’s partnership with KPL , SportPesa stepped in and brought the much needed stability also Supporting the successful elections of one of Kenya’s biggest clubs.
Arsenal Training camp
Let’s not forget the Training they had with Arsenal for youth coaches for a week this was the first in the country and it indeed left an indelible mark In Kenya.
Boxing
Boxing in Kenya has been on its deathbed for years but the coming of SportPesa has brought light at the end of the tunnel for the sweet Science game this has led to positive improvement.
Rugby
Rugby match last weekend was full to capacity after many years that’s because of the positive effects SportPesa brought in and the feel good factor after pumping in a whooping Ksh 607 million that’s unprecedented move in Kenya.
Sportpesa have a noble focus in Kenya that should be praised and supported as their main focus is to partner with sporting bodies that have good governance and have managed to put their houses in order with impeccable management.
Rio Olympics
Kenya is a sporting nation and if you look at the composition of the team to Rio Olympics they have got alot of motivation and the mood as been bubbling due to investors like SportPesa who have worked extremely hard to make sports valued in Kenya vis a vis great development strategies.
If you compare the number of betting firms who have a presence in Kenya it’s only SportPesa that has visibility in Sports in every area and that has been a plus and seen a lot of positive growth.
