BY SPORT DESK.
Onnline and mobile sports betting firm, Betika has moved to rescue Sofapaka Football Club from its financial woes by signing a Sh. 50 million sponsorship deal for this season.
The deal that was unveiled at a Nairobi hotel today comes at a time when the club is barely keeping a float and after having narrowly survived being kicked out of last season’s soccer league for failing to honor financial obligations.
During the period of sponsorship, Betika will have its name and logo emblazoned on all Sofapaka’s jerseys.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony Betika General Manager, Lucy Muchira said the revolutionary sponsorship is in line with Betika’s goals in supporting sports for socio-economic development of Kenya.
“When we launched Betika, it was always our dream to be able to give back to our community by finding various ways to grow local sporting talent,” said Muchira.
She added that Betika selected Sofapaka FC due to its neutrality and as a club that embodies the Kenyan spirit noting that the club won on its debut season and continues to fight for their place at the top, despite the financial challenges faced.
Sofapaka President, Elly Kalekwa hailed the sponsorship as a timely game-changer to their Kenyan Premier League chances.
He added that the club is delighted to partner with Betika in their journey and promised that they will be a “vehicle that Betika can take advantage of in our growing sports business market.”
Kalekwa said Betika has joined other global online gaming companies, increasingly placing their bets on sports sponsorships and is “the only betting company with a local shareholding to be involved in a sponsorship of such magnitude.”
The event was witnessed by officials from Betika and members of the Sofapaka Football Club.
