Everton Legend Osman: East Africa Tours Set Blues Apart From EPL Rivals

NAIROBI, Kenya- Everton FC continuing relationship with East Africa sets the Blues apart from other top English Premier League sides as the team prepares to face Kariobangi Sharks FC on Sunday in a landmark international friendly at the MISC Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi .

Speaking moments after landing in Kenya on Wednesday afternoon, Everton legend Leon Osman further maintained it was too early to gauge how his former team that is set to arrive on Saturday will play when they take on 2019 SportPesa Cup winners on their first ever visit to Kenya.

Osman- a veteran of 352 appearances for the Blues- is making his second trip to Kenya and first since November 2017 when he launched the celebrated Kits for Africa initiative that has seen grassroots football teams from all over the country receive donated uniform from technology and entertainment business SportPesa partners in Europe.

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"It feels very good to be here in Kenya. I met really good people the first time I was here and I'm pleased to be back," the midfielder who scored 43 goals in his 16 year stay at Goodison Park proclaimed.

"It is to early to say what Everton will do on Sunday since lads have just returned for pre-season training and are getting their camaraderie back. I believe they will give their best," the retired England international who earned two caps for the senior Three Lions and now works as an Everton Ambassador added.

"What sets Everton apart from the other English Premier League clubs is coming to East Africa and playing teams from this part of the world. The team's visit to Tanzania was amazing and to be back to this region again is a commitment to the partnership the club has with SportPesa," Osman emphasised.

Immaculate pitches

His arrival set the wheels in motion for the start of the Everton in Kenya tour that will climax with the showdown dubbed SportPesa Cup at the 60,000-seater Kasarani with another Everton legend, South African midfield ace and fellow Club Ambassador, Steven Pienaar expected to land in Nairobi on Wednesday night.

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During his previous visit to the country, Osman was a guest of honour at the annual Koth Biro Football Tournament after visiting the sprawling Kariobangi estate in Nairobi where Sharks hail from, getting a chance to witness first hand the harsh conditions local footballers go through as they seek a ticket to play in the big time.

"The experience here is really enjoyable. This place is unreal. To come to this place and see grassroots football and how the players are enjoying the game on the Ziwani pitch is amazing. This is a long way from England where clubs take players as young as six and train them on immaculate pitches.

"To come here and see the enthusiasm from the players on such a pitch and to see teams from communities from Nairobi is fantastic, the ex-England international added," he remarked.

Osman and Pienaar will be involved in a number of activities on Thursday and Friday aimed at promoting football development among grassroots teams, coaches and players as part of the planned lasting legacy of Everton historic visit to Kenya besides interacting with fans. 

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During their first visit to East Africa, Everton sunk SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia FC 2-1 at the National Main Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on July 13, 2017 in a game made famous by retired England international, Wayne Rooney, scoring a screamer to mark his second return to his boyhood club.

Everton legend, Leon Osman (left) is interviewed by SportPesa New crew upon his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on July 3, 2019. PHOTO/Brian Kinyanjui/SPN