TANZANIA'S VICE PRESIDENT GIVES A WARM WELCOME TO EVERTON

Tanzania’s Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Everton Striker Wayne Rooney during a dinner hostesd for Everton team after arrival in Tanzania to play Kenya's Gor Mahia Football club.

Tanzania's Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has commended SportPesa for inviting Everton to play in her country.

Speaking at a reception hosted for Everton and SportPesa at Dar es Salaam's Sea Cliff Hotel on Wednesday, Ms Hassan said the deal was a great tourism boost for her country.

The VP said she could not believe it when SportPesa officials first told her of the plan to bring Everton to Tanzania during a meeting at the country's State House a few weeks ago.

"Being an avid and enthusiastic follower of the English Premier League, I saw this as a great opportunity to put Tanzania on the real footballing map of the world," said the minister.

Hassan commended the gaming firm, which was launched in Tanzania in May, for its plans aimed at developing sporting talent in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

"Thank you very much, SportPesa and Mr Robert Elston, the CEO of Everton, for opening Tanzania to the world through this visit," said the VP as she pledged her government's support for SportPesa.

The dignitaries at the function included Tanzania's Minister of Information, Sports and Culture, Harrison Mwakyembe, the Rwanda High Commissioner to Tanzania, Eugene Kayihura, Kenya's acting High Commisioner to Tanzania, Boniface Muhia, the British High Commisioner to Tanzania, Sarah Cooke, and Vodacom's top executives.

The SportPesa team was represented by the Tanzania director of administration and compliance, Abbas Tarimba, Kenya CEO Ronald Karauri, and Tanzania CEO Pavel Slavkov.

Earlier, Everton and Kenya's Gor Mahia were received warmly at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

The Everton squad was received by Sports Minister Mwakyembe.