This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On July 6, 2019, English Premier League side Everton arrived in Kenya ahead of their historic clash against SportPesa Premier League (SPL) team Kariobangi Sharks, scheduled for Sunday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
This marks the second time the English football giants will visit East Africa to play an African side. Their first visit was on June 1, 2017, when they played against 18-time KPL champions Gor Mahia in Dar es Salaam Stadium, losing 1-2.
Everton will face SportPesa Super Cup 2019 winners Kariobangi Sharks, who defeated their Kenyan counterparts Bandari 1-0 in an entertaining final held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Before the match, an advance Everton party consisting of the 'Everton in the Community' team arrived on Sunday to kick-start their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities at the home turf of their opponents in Kariobangi estate.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman, who made 433 appearances for the team and scored 57 goals, arrived yesterday alongside 37-year-old former South African national team captain Steve Pienaar.
Osman emphasized, 'What sets Everton apart from other English Premier League clubs is coming to East Africa and playing teams from this part of the world. The team's visit to Tanzania was amazing, and to be back in this region again is a commitment to the partnership the club has with SportPesa.'
