This archive report was first published on 16 September 2021.
September 16, 2021, marked a significant day for Tedium Rodgers, a former Mathare United midfielder who had spent years behind bars at Kamiti Maximum Prison. The 23-year-old had been sentenced to death in 2000 for a robbery gone wrong, but his life took a dramatic turn after his release last year.
While in prison, Rodgers had coached fellow inmates and honed his skills in tent-making, a passion he had developed during his incarceration. Upon his release, he found it challenging to adjust to life outside, but he remained determined to turn his life around.
‘I want to tell the youth that crime and drugs don’t pay. Stick to what you earn and keep working hard,’ Rodgers advised, reflecting on his experiences. His words of wisdom were a testament to his transformation from a life of crime to one of redemption.
Thanks to OdiBets' Odimtaani initiative, Rodgers has been given a second chance to pursue his passion for tent-making. The betting firm has offered to support him in starting a tent-making business, providing him with the opportunity to turn his skills into a viable career.
‘We have decided to stand with Teddy as everyone deserves a second chance in life, he might have erred before but now he is reformed and needs to pick up the pieces from where he had left,’ said Odibets Country Marketing manager Aggrey Sayi.
For Rodgers, the support from OdiBets has been a lifeline. ‘I never saw this coming, Odibets under their Odimtaani initiative has given me a chance of a lifetime, I will now pursue my tent-making skill and make the best out of it,’ he exclaimed, his gratitude evident.
