SportPesa And Everton Win At The Sports Industry Awards

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa- Global gaming firm, SportPesa, and English Premier League (EPL) side, Everton FC have bagged two coveted titles at the 2018 Sports Industry Awards (SIA) held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johanesburg, South Africa, on Friday evening.

 The two won in the Best African Sponsorship and Pan-Africa Campaign of the Year categories for their partnerships that saw the EPL club visit Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to play Kenyan champions and SportPesa Super Cup winners, Gor Mahia FC, in July 2017.

 “We are delighted that our partnership with SportPesa has been recognized on such a prestigious stage as the Sports Industry Awards.

 “These are the most recognised sports sponsorship and marketing awards in Africa, so to win both Best African Sponsorship and Pan-Africa Campaign of the Year is a testament to the strength of our partnership with SportPesa and their ethos as a partner,” Mark Rollings, Head of Partnership Management at Everton Football Club, said.

 The fixture pitting Everton against Gor was hosted at the National Stadium in Tanzania in front of a sold-out arena of 35,000 people. Everton won the game 2-1.The match made history by being the first of its nature in Dar es Salaam.

 It was the success of this captivating visit, referred to as “Everton in Tanzania”, that roused interest from the industry, resulting in the two awards which were announced on Friday.

 The partnership has also been celebrated for bringing EPL football to the East African region.

 “Everton has a proud history of African players and a special connection to the continent, so this is not only a proud day for the club but also a demonstration of what the power of Everton can do for commercial partners in the region.

 “Our two organisations have worked hand-in-hand to bring our partnership to life over the last twelve months and our activation work in Tanzania last season saw us break new ground together as the first England Premier League team to play in East Africa, an event which captivated the whole of the region.

 “To deliver what we have within the first 12 months of our partnership is a fantastic achievement, but we are now very much focused on looking forward to ensuring this partnership continues to go from strength to strength,”Rollings said.

 Tarimba Abbas, Director of Administration and Compliance for SportPesa Tanzania, noted: “It’s great for SportPesa and myself to witness such an honour given to our company, the recipients of the awards.

 “SportPesa is now a global company, and these awards will motivate us in our venture to participate in sports development in Africa, and the world at large.”

 Speaking on the impact of hosting a game of this magnitude, Susan Mlawi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports in Tanzania, highlighted the importance of the award for East Africa:

 “Being shortlisted and winning the Sports Industry Awards clearly shows the recognition of Government support in promoting sports in Tanzania.

 “The Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports applauds the organizers of these prestigious awards, administering successful selection.

 “This reflects our stated commitment to develop sports in the country and the promotion of football to the next level, working towards our vision to lead Tanzanian and African football successfully. We are delighted to play our part in the development agenda for the sports industry in Tanzania.”

 SportPesa’s Chief Marketing Officer for Kenya and Tanzania, Kelvin Twissa, underlined: “The successful Everton in Tanzania trip is a perfect example of how far we can go when government works with the private sector to support sports. We are honored to work closely with the government.”

 Gor Mahia will travel to England in November 2018 to play Everton on their home soil after retaining SportPesa Super Cup title for the second successive season in another historic fixture with the club being the first East African side to play in the United Kingdom.