Betika mulling monthly awards for Super League
Gaming firm Betika is toying with the idea of introducing monthly awards to the best performers in the Betika National Super League (NSL).
Betika Head of Commercial John Mbatia said the company was steadfast in giving more empowerment to clubs in the NSL besides upping its bid to make the division more competitive to serve as an inspiration to lower-tier leagues.
“We want NSL to churn out great clubs and players. We are in talks with Football Kenya Federation to ensure that the monthly awards proposal is implemented through the Betika Na Community Initiative,’’ said Mbatia at the Camp Toyoyo grounds yesterday in a ceremony where the firm donated kits and balls to lower tier league teams.
Mbatia’s sentiments came in the wake of a proposal tabled by NSL Governing Council chairman Johnston Sakwa for Betika to award exemplary individual and team performance to make the NSL more competitive.
To set the ball rolling in improved goodwill to NSL, Betika gave an additional Sh2 million to FKF towards the clubs kitty where each will be entitled to Sh850,000 which is an improvement of Sh750,000 they were initially getting from the betting platform.
“We are serious in uplifting football standards at the grassroots and I must say the kits and balls distribution will be is an ongoing venture. We are also targeting the rest of the community including boda boda riders and engineers who have been recipients of reflector jackets and helmets,” said Mbatia.
He hailed FKF for its deliberate efforts of developing football at the grassroots, adding that the reason they partnered with the federation is joining forces with like-minded people to take the sport to the next level.
FKF President Nick Mwendwa said the improved sponsorship is laudable and noted that he has another four years subject to re-election in the forthcoming federation polls to develop the game ten-fold.
“The federation’s partnership will go a long way in fulfilling the bench marks set to improve football in the country and I would like to urge other corporate entities to take cue,” said Mwendwa.
Fifteen clubs received two pairs of kits each including Vihiga United, Ushuru, Migori Youth, Mount Kenya United, Police Fc, Nairobi City Stars, Talanta, Shabana, Coast Stima, Modern Coast Rangers, Murang’a Seal, Bidco United, Administration Police, Kibera Black Stars and Vihiga Bullets.
