Government, FKF Stamp The Seal Of Approval To Landmark Sharks, Everton Clash

NAIROBI, Kenya- It is all systems go for the landmark July 7 international friendly where Everton FC will play 2019 SportPesa Cup winners, Kariobangi Sharks FC in Nairobi after the Government and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) gave the landmark fixture their seal of approval on Thursday.

At a press conference in Nairobi during the official launch of Everton in Kenya tour that will be crowned by the game against Sharks at the 60,000-seater amphitheater of Kenyan football, the MISC Kasarani Stadium, the ministries of Sports, Culture and Heritage and Tourism as well as the County Government of Nairobi threw their weight behind the groundbreaking tour of the nine-time English league winners.

"What a delight and a great moment setting the stage for the game on the Kariobangi Sharks versus Everton at Kasarani.

"A historic date and match courtesy of SportPesa Cup anchored on a champions play champions model. Twendeni Kasarani (let's go to Kasarani)," the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Dr. Ambassador Amina Mohammed said after being presented with an Everton jersey by SportPesa CEO, Captain Ronald Karauri to mark the start of build-up activities aimed at encouraging local fans to turn out in force to witness history.

DO NOT MISS: Holders Sharks, Bandari Eyeing CAF Confed Cup Slot In SportPesa Shield Final

"When one thinks of all the other 7th of July's, they will always remember that was the day Kariobangi Sharks played against Everton.

"We are very fortunate to have a partnership like the one we have and be able to host an international football team. Great moments are born from great opportunities.

"The opportunities we give our young people and this is what we have upon us on July 7," the minister added, referring to a date that is significantly marked as occasion to remember the clamour for multi-party democracy in the late 1990s.

Global audience

In his remarks, her Principal Secretary for Sports, Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia emphasised that the Everton tour was a big opportunity to showcase Kenyan football to a global audience.

"We are on for the game and very excited to be a part of this moment in history. This is great in developing football in Kenya and we are very happy about the upcoming occasion," Kaberia said.

From left to right- Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia Sports PS, FKF President Nick Mwendwa, Robert Maoga Kariobangi Sharks chairman, SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri and FKF CEO Robert Muthomi at the Everton in Kenya press briefing at the Kasarani Stadium on Friday, May 31, 2019. PHOTO | OLIVER | SPN

“I consider it a great honour to host a leading English Premier League club in Kenya. It is an even greater privilege to arrange a landmark event where a talented Kenyan team gets the opportunity to go head to head with this top English team,” Captain Karauri stressed.

DO NOT MISS: Special Feature: 'Crazy' Gor Fans Brought Me To Kenya- Hassan Oktay

"When you talk of football, it's about inspiring people, showing the players that there is no bigger team and no height that they cannot reach, that is what we are trying to achieve," the SportPesa CEO underscored.

FKF President, Nick Mwendwa, assured the organising committee that has partnered the governing body, Sports Kenya in addition to the technology and entertainment business will deliver an occasion to remember.

"This is a chance for the local players who will play Everton to boost their careers. It is a boost to sports development in the country and we are committed to give fans and our guests the best of our game," the FKF chief who was a founder member and chairman of Sharks before he took over at the federation declared.

One of the players who will be out to shine on July 7 is the speedy winger, Harrison Mwendwa, who entered into Sharks' folkrole when he scored the winner in the January 27 SportPesa Cup final in Dar-es-Salaam to hand his team a 1-0 victory over local rivals Bandari FC and earn the right to play Everton.  

DO NOT MISS: 'Mashemeji Derby' Champions League Final Puts Kenya On The Map

“It’s always great to score and this particular goal is that more special because it means we will host Everton in Kenya. This is a great moment for Kenyan football and I urge all fans to come to the stadium on the day. This is not just about Sharks, it’s history for African football,” Mwendwa told SportPesa News.

Impacting change

Sharks will battle to retain their SportPesa Shield crown at Kasarani on Saturday against Bandari in a repeat of the SportPesa Cup decider played at the imposing National Main Stadium in the Tanzanian capital after flooring Dar giants, Yanga SC 3-2 in the quarters and another domestic side, Mbao FC on post-match penalties in the semis.

The eight-team regional knockout title was only the second ever trophy success for the team founded in 2000 in the low income estate of Kariobangi to combat societal ills amongst area youth having lifted the domestic cup at the tail end of last season when they edged fellow SportPesa Premier League (SPL) side Sofapaka FC 3-2.

DO NOT MISS: YouTube Pro Golfer Uses Technology To His Advantage Ahead Of KCB Karen Masters

The friendly dubbed SportPesa Challenge will be the first official 2019/20 pre-season friendly for manager Marco Silva and the side he led to an eighth finish in the English Premier League (EPL) last term on their second visit to East Africa.

Kasarani will witness the second English side play in Kenya in as many years following the meeting of Gor and second division Championship side, Hull City FC in May last year that drew a record crowd at the football cathedral of Kenya.

During their tour of Kenya, Everton and SportPesa will be involved in a range of cultural and charitable events across Nairobi all aimed at impacting change through sports, with a number of exciting activities in store for fans and community teams.

DO NOT MISS: Special Feature: Catherine 'The Great' Ndereba's Apple Fell Far From The Tree