Former Arsenal and Nigeria superstar, Nwankwo Kanu will be the chief guest during the StarTimes Seven-a-side Inter-Media Football Challenge to be held in Nairobi on 2nd April 2016 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The 40-year old, who also played for Dutch side AFC Ajax, as well as English sides Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, will be gracing the 20-team inaugural media challenge and conduct football clinics for children as part of his role as the StarTimes Global Goodwill Ambassador.

The former striker, who skippered Nigeria when they won the 1996 Olympic title, will also spend time with cardiovascular condition patients to promote his Kanu Heart Foundation initiative which he founded in the year 2000 to help save underprivileged African children by offering cardiovascular procedures.

Kanu, capped 86 times, scoring 13 goals for Nigeria between 1994 and 2010, was diagnosed with a heart defect that threatened his amazing football career shortly after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and underwent a successful heart surgery in November 1996 enabling him to play football professionally.

With the English Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, the FIFA U-17 World Cup and Olympic titles to his name, Kanu is Africa’s most decorated football player and has won two African-Footballer-of-the-Year honours.

Kanu, being a former captain of the Super Eagles those times when Nigeria was what many of us loved adds to his popularity in Kenya and East Africa, noted StarTimes Public Relations Manager Alex Mwaura.

“He is an inspiration to many because his success story is the typical African narrative of rising to stardom against all odds. He is a star the man next door can relate to and we are proud that he is coming to Kenya to interact with football enthusiasts,” said Alex.”

Following his appointment as StarTimes Ambassador for Africa on 30th October 2015, Kanu said: ““I am very happy to support and promote the StarTimes as its brand ambassador in Africa. Driving affordable access to premium European soccer leagues will go a long way towards inspiring the next generation of footballers and I am glad to partner with StarTimes in achieving this,” noted Kanu.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com