Football clubs at the border Sub-County of Taveta have received a major boost after a prominent trader in the region unveiled Sh1.5 million sponsorship deal for teams in Sub-County, County and regional levels.
Dubbed as Chapa Dimba Na Mutiso, the sponsorship will see over 19 teams from Taveta Sub-County benefit from branded uniforms, balls and having 50 percent of the participation fee for official tournaments paid to Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Speaking during the launch of the tournament in Taveta, Morris Mutiso, the sponsor, said the deal would go a long way to promote talents in the marginalised region.
He pointed out competitive sporting was a key to bring together young people in the region and dissuade them against usage of drugs.
“This sponsorship will ensure all teams will have the uniforms and balls needed for training. I will also pay half of the participation fee to FKF to ease the burden of payments for poor teams,” he said.
Mr Hannington Mkuna, FKF Taveta Branch Chair, hailed the sponsorship terming it as a milestone towards supporting talent in the region.
The sports’ official pointed out the region was endowed with outstanding talents that needed nurturing. He warned that most young people might drift away into drugs and alcohol abuse.
“We need such support that will promote growth of sports at the ward level. As a federation, we are asking the players to have discipline and they will go far,” he said.
Taveta Sub-County has three teams playing in the regional league. They are Taveta Sisal FC, Eldoro Sports Villa FC and Gicheha Queens; a women’s football team. The other sixteen teams are playing in the county league.
In addition to the sponsorship, the winner at the county league will receive Sh60,000, while the regional winner will get Sh60,000.
“I will give Sh60,000 to any team in Taveta that emerges winner in either county or regional league,” said Mutiso.
Mr Terezi Wakesho, FKF technical chair, noted that the sponsorship was further encouraging the growth of women football in the region. She noted that Gicheha Queens was playing at the regional league which would encourage other women teams to excel.
“Having a women’s team at regional level means we have what it takes to take more teams even higher,” she said.
By Wagema Mwangi
