Leading sports betting firm, Betika, is making serious strides towards investing in the Kenyan communities through its ‘Betika Na Community’ initiative. Through this initiative, the company invests in the youth by nurturing talent through sports, arts and culture events. Under the sports program, the company organizes grassroots football tournaments across the country to support the youth in the communities through the provision of uniforms, financial support, kits, balls, nets, and other sports equipment.
This is a timely initiative from Betika as Kenyan football teams cite a lack of finances and football equipment as a major challenge towards consistent training and development of the sport.
Since its launch in November 2019, Betika has held football tournaments in Machakos, Meru, Kisii, Nyamira, Vihiga, Kakamega counties among others. Each tournament consisted of grassroots football teams who benefitted from cash prizes, football equipment, and support towards a community water project of their choice. In addition, as part of community engagement in these counties, Betika distributed branded merchandise and protective occupational gear e.g. reflector jackets, aprons, overalls and conductor jackets to the locals.
Speaking during a press briefing, the firm’s Commercial Head, Mr. John Mbatiah said, “We are happy with the progress ‘Betika Na Community’ has made in transforming lives in Kenyan communities. Since we began the tournament, we have been overwhelmed by sponsorship and event requests from football teams and clubs all over the country requesting for support. Even though we are currently deploying team kits, footballs and nets to over 1,000 football teams across the country, there is still a gap to satisfy all requests. We, therefore, call upon other industry players and sports stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and join Betika in supporting all the teams”.
Mr. Mbatiah also noted that the level of football talent in Kenya is improving and that the firm is committed to ensuring that it develops even further.
The ‘Betika Na Community’ has now grown into a massive movement with a huge following across the country with sports lovers taking to the firm’s social media pages to enquire where the initiative is going next. Betika continues to reaffirm their commitment to investing in sports, arts, and culture across the country in 2020. With the big plans being laid out, we wait to see where they will take the talent call next!