This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
On Saturday, the Ligi Ndogo Grounds in Nairobi played host to the inaugural European Premier League (EPL) Fans Day, a tournament that brought together football enthusiasts from across the city.
Arsenal A team dominated the competition, thrashing The Score Kenya Team A 4-2 to claim the top prize of Sh30,000. The runners-up, The Score Kenya Team A, received Sh20,000 in prize money.
Chelsea secured third place, earning Sh10,000, while Kenzo Matata and Innocent Mutiso of Arsenal A team were awarded the Golden Glove and Golden Boot respectively for their outstanding performances.
Former Kakamega Homeboyz captain Allan Wanga praised the tournament, saying, “This was a great tournament that allowed players who wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to show their skills to do so. Kenya has a lot of talent and we need more such events to give them an opportunity to be seen.”
Wanga also called on corporates to support sports by sponsoring events like the EPL Fans Day.
Betika, the organizers of the tournament, plan to hold it annually to promote friendly rivalry and passion among football fans. According to Eric Mwiti, Brand Manager at Betika, “We want to do this by supporting the local teams and bringing the game closer to them. This will be achieved through tournaments and other forms of sponsorships.”
As part of their efforts to promote responsible sports betting, Betika has launched a counselling service for customers who may be struggling with compulsive gambling.
