Former champions Standard FC out to reclaim Road to Anfield title

From left: Left Foot Sports Managing Director Aman Bhasin, Deloitt FC captain Gideon Mumo captain and Standard Chartered Bank's David Lawrence during Road To Anfield draws in Nairobi on Thursday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The 2014 champions Standard Group PLC have been paired in Group A alongside Jubilee Insurance B, Deloitte B, Path Kenya and B.A.T Kenya in the 2024 Standard Chartered Road To Anfield football tournament draw held in Nairobi on Thursday.

The prestigious contest, to be staged at St. Mary's School in Nairobi on November 30, will see 41 clients teams and ten staff sides battle in round robin format in the group stages before top two sides in each group sail into the round of 16 knockouts.

The event will be graced by Liverpool FC legend Jason McAteer who will preside over the battle for the sole ticket to represent Kenya at Anfield, home of Liverpool FC, for a once in a lifetime experience trip slated for early next year.

Besides, McAteer will also have a media engagement with local and international scribes during his trip to Kenya.

The Kenyan champions to Anfield will have an exciting time in the United Kingdom where they will also watch Liverpool clash against Arsenal at home in a blockbuster English Premier League second leg match.

Besides, the Kenyan winners will engage in a tournament at Anfield apart from the priceless coaching by other Liverpool legends and the grand tours to the vast Liverpool facilities which include Anfield stadium and the academy and merchandise shops.

Nation Media Group are in Group H alongside their biggest threat Radio Africa, Kenya Airways B, Wananchi Group and CFAO Motors.

Yobesh Omondi who will captain Old Mutual Group in Group G is very excited ahead of their first attempt in the tournament. They will battle Royal Media Services, Batuk, Zamara and Kenya Airways.

"Our target is to head to Anfield, and the tournament has come at the right time when we are fit as we have been training all throughout the year, we have been engaging in the various insurance tournaments organised by our parent body AKI," Omondi highlighted.

While urging the teams to put their best foot forward in the championship, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Associates Marketing Principal, David Lawrence noted: "We are finally happy that the tournament is back after the dreaded Covid-19 break. While the winners will enjoy a fully paid up trip to Liverpool, runners up and third place finishers will be rewarded with exciting Liverpool merchandise."