Betika calls for increased investment in local football

Commercial Head of Betika John Mbatiah (left) present football kits Barry Otieno CEO Football Kenya Federation on behalf of National Super League teams during the launch of Phase II of Betika Na Community Initiative at Camp Toyoyo. Over 150 competing teams from the country got in-kind provision of uniforms, financial support, kits, balls, nets, and other sports equipment. Feb 9, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Leading sports betting firm Betika Business Head John Mbatiah has called on fellow industry players to invest in Kenyan football.

Mbaitiah was speaking at Camp Toyoyo Saturday during Betika Na Community initiative where they presented teams with playing kit.

While noting the abundance of talent and the role played by football clubs in scouting for across the country, Mbatian said: “We call upon other industry players and sports stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and join Betika in supporting all the teams,”

“The level of football in Kenya is improving and we are committed to ensuring that it develops even further,” Mbatiah said.

He said the demand for sponsorship is since they started Betika Na Community initiative is overwhelming.

“Even though we have already presented team kits, footballs and nets to over 1,000 football teams across the country, there is still a gap to satisfy all requests,” he said.

The firm hosted Jericho All Stars and Kibera Black Stars to an exciting exhibition match after the kit handover exercises that saw the two teams walk away with Sh150,000 in prize money.

The Betika Na Community football tournaments have since been played in Machakos, Meru, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega and Kisumu since November last year.

This is in addition to a three-year sponsorship of Betika National Super League in a Sh100m partnership deal with Federation of Kenya Football and a further sponsorship of Kenyan Premier League side Sofapaka.