Kits For Africa: Sori, Magunga Football Teams Boosted By SportPesa Donation

Teams from the South Suba region of Kenya received a huge morale boost after gaming firm SportPesa donated football kits to their representatives.

The Thursday morning visit to Magunga and Sori saw 50 teams from the area receive football jerseys courtesy of SportPesa’s Kits for Africa campaign.

The five-year campaign continues to aid in football development across the country by providing kits from European football clubs, to help less fortunate teams in the region.

Magunga’s Community Leader Stephene Sangira welcomed SportPesa to his home area and expressed utmost gratitude for the generous donation.

“The distance SportPesa has traveled to come here and donate something that we lack is something that I am extremely grateful for.

“This community loves football and so many teams are going to benefit from these jerseys, both in their training and also for their league games,” Sangira stated.

He further went on to pledge two balls to every team in the area, a conscious and very welcome promise to the Gwassi North people.

“No matter how far you are, SportPesa will find a way to reach and help develop the football in the region.

“We understand that these are basic things that footballers lack and we are very content because we were able to come and donate these kits,” SportPesa’s Marketing Manager of Public Relations Lola Okulo added.

In Sori, the donation would not have come at a more opportune time as the teams and the residents of Sori gear up for a string of tournaments during the festive period.

“I cannot even begin to appreciate SportPesa enough for today’s visit. This community does not take it lightly and we are forever grateful.

“Nobody else has come this far just to offer support, no matter how little and this means a lot to us,” said David Owiya, a former player and now a coach in the area.

The most notable tournament lined up, is a community-owned 23-team contest named in honor of the founder Jolawi Obondo.

Obondo, the Team Manager of record Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia FC, started the tournament in 2004 and it has reached admirable heights.

“The tournament happens once every year, we had to skip the last edition due to covid restrictions but we are all set for this year’s event.

“These kits will really go a long way in helping the teams from my community train as well as attend matches with some uniformity and that makes me very happy,” Obondo stated.

The annual spectacle has birthed so many local talents in the football scene, most recently being George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo.

‘Berry’ as he is known by his fans, has extensive club and country experience, winning 3 titles with Gor before leaving to join current KPL champions Tusker FC.

Other notable names to have come from this community include former Posta Rangers FC and Kenya international Jockins Atudo and Tillens Oguta, the current coach of Rusinga.

“Teams come from Migori, Kisii and even as far as Nairobi to participate in this tournament. It is something everyone looks forward to all year.

“These football jerseys have already set the mood and for that we are grateful. As a former player of this tournament, I know how lucky these teams are to receive such a hearty donation,” Charles Otieno, the tournaments Secretary stated.