Six lower tier clubs get big boost ahead of new season

Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri (2nd left) presents a dummy cheque to Victors Faith FC chairman Bishop Peter Maithya during the launch of SportPesa sponsorship of six teams in Kasarani Constituency at Muhuri Muchiri Stadium in Ruai on October 18, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Mwiki United FC players are eager to post impressive results in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division Two League that is slated to kick off on October 28.

The players are out to improve their eighth-place finish in the league last season after landing on a solid sponsorship that will help the outfit cater for their logistics in the league with ease.

The club is among the six teams that received a sponsorship boost from gaming firm SportPesa in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The ceremony held at Muhuri Muchiri Stadium in Kasarani saw other five FKF sides namely; Victors Faith FC, Ruai United FC, Kasarani FC, Maji Mazuri FC and Ruai Starlets also receive home and away jerseys and balls.

All the six clubs will also share the Sh5 million that is meant to cater for their expenses in the league.

“We are motivated with the sponsorship, we will stretch beyond our limits to get good results, our target is to top the league so as to proceed to the FKF Division One category,” Mwiki United captain Fredrick Salia told Standard Sports.

Kasarani FC skipper Boniface Juma said the financial support will help them to do better in the FKF County League where they have gained promotion this season.

“We are targeting the FKF Regional League next year so we have already done ten new signings. We will use the funds received to effectively cater for our transport logistics, especially on away matches, and also to pay the referees fees,” Juma underlined.

In order to perform better in the County League where they have been stuck for two years now, Maji Mazuri FC captain Sospeter Malo said they will use part of the funds to cater for the players match bonuses.

“Our players will receive Sh500 for a win and Sh 250 for a draw, this is enough motivation to floor opponents in the league,” Malo stated.

The event was graced by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and SportPesa CEO Roanld Karauri who is also the Member of Parliament for Kasarani.

While motivating the six teams and 43 others from the constituency that are also supported by the gaming firm, Namwamba said: “I am so excited about this sponsorship because it is in perfect harmony with the bottom-up transformation agenda that our government is driving.

"In order to get sports to the highest level, I am inviting corporate sponsors to get on board and assist the Ministry in its efforts of developing sport.”

On his side Karauri stated: “We say charity begins at home. That is why we have started here in Kasarani. We want this sponsorship to grow. We will expand this across the country so that we stand in support of grassroots teams.”