Man United Poor Form Alarms SportPesa Jackpot Winner Korir

3rd October 2018

Red Devils fan who scooped KSh 208, 733, 619 payout call on authorities to establish talent academies to develop local football

SportPesa Meja Jackpot winner, Cosmas Korir (centre), waves to members of the public at Nairobi's Uhuru Park on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 during his official unveiling where he later received his KSh208,733, 618 cheque from the leading bookmakers. PHOTO/Brian Kinyanjui/SPN
SportPesa Meja Jackpot winner, Cosmas Korir (centre), waves to members of the public at Nairobi's Uhuru Park on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 during his official unveiling where he later received his KSh208,733, 618 cheque from the leading bookmakers. PHOTO/Brian Kinyanjui/SPN
SUMMARY

  • The Agriculture Department Director in West Pokot County who turns 37 on October 11 was formally presented with his bumper cheque in Nairobi on Wednesday as his windfall continued sinking in
  • He called on the country authorities to partner with the bookmaker to develop grassroots football for the country to produce more players who can ply their trade in the popular EPL
  • Locally, his favourite team is SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia FC

NAIROBI, Kenya- Manchester United FC fan, Cosmas Korir, will only consider travelling to Old Trafford to watch his favourite football team play if results improve as he called on authorities to establish academies to tap into the rich talent in the country.

Korir became the toast of Kenya when he scooped third biggest payout in Africa’s gaming history when he won the KSh 208, 733, 619 (USD 2,068,789.49) in the weekly SportPesa Mega Jackpot on Sunday.

The Agriculture Department Director in West Pokot County who turns 37 on October 11 was formally presented with his bumper cheque in Nairobi on Wednesday as his windfall continued sinking in.

Like any other United fan in Kenya, Korir is concerned about the poor start to the season that has seen the Old Trafford giants register their worst start in the English Premier League (EPL) for 29 years that has seen them fall to 10th, nine points adrift of cross town rivals Manchester City FC (19) with seven games played.

Locally, his favourite team is SportPesa Premier League champions, Gor Mahia FC but he is urging United's management to seek a quick solution to the slump amid turmoil between manager Jose Mourinho and his players.

"I support Gor, it was unfortunate that I didn't attend the ceremony but on the day they were crowned, I also won the Mega Jackpot,” Korir who was decked with a K’Ogalo jersey on his big day told.

However, his love for the game saw him start gaming on SportPesa in September last year and on Sunday night (September 30), a call from the firm’s CEO changed his life forever as he urged fellow punters on the leading platform to play responsibly.

“I cannot say that I wanted to win, if you play, if anything comes, its fine. To me, it’s a favourite pastime, and if Man U is there of not, it’s a game to me. When you wage on back a certain team and win, you feel nice, it’s like you have powers,” Korir stressed.

He called on the country authorities to partner with the bookmaker to develop grassroots football for the country to produce more players who can ply their trade in the popular EPL as well as in other sporting disciplines.

“We have many youth out there who have talent and the reason why Kenya is not doing so well is because there are people we have not identified. We need academies to tap that talent.

“You will find that there are good players in villages and sometimes I wonder how the players we see playing for the likes of United get picked. You find that there are some kind of judges who have a formula for identifying talent,” the winner of the third biggest payout in Africa gaming history emphasised.

Young talent

“I love Kenya and I wish one time, we will go to the World Cup finals. Football is not like athletics where there are a number of races where young talent meets to compete and if are consistent in three or four meetings; everyone knows that you are a good runner.

“Football is a team sport and we should they same things they do in Europe where there is a system to tap talent,” he added.

Recalling his journey to riches the former Letein High School alumnus recalled how he could not wash his hands for three days when he was given KSh50,000 to hold as a student before graduating from university and later studying his masters.

Korir tried his hand in politics, joining the Chama Cha Mashinani (Grassroots Party) after serving as a Director in Bomet County under the administration of first Governor, Isaac Ruto and vied without success for the Konoin parliamentary seat last year.

That defeat left him cash-strapped having exhausted all his savings in the campaigns and in January, he landed his current job in West Pokot where he was diligently serving local farmers until fortune smiled upon him.

“After I lost the election, people did not want to see me anymore and they would not answer your calls since they thought I wanted to borrow money. Now, God has added value to me and I can only say thank you.

“I want to thank SportPesa since this is not a con game, if you have won, whatever you get is yours. I feel like giving people a share to celebrate but I will use what I have wisely,” the Agriculture Department Director in West Pokot County who turns 37 next week (October 11) gushed.

While presenting the die hard United fan with his cheque, SportPesa Head of Customer Service, Emily Gichuki, presented his prize on behalf of her CEO, Captain Ronald Karauri.

“We are honoured to be presenting this cheque to you. Continue to play responsibly and we hope this relationship will continue for long,” Ms Gichuki, remarked.

His predecessor as MJP winner, Gordon Ogada, who scooped KSh Sh230, 742,881 that remains the highest payout in history in February, escorted Korir to receive his bonanza.

Ogada advised Korir to first take a holiday with his family to soak it all in to afford him time to chart out a prudent investment plan for his huge bonus since his phone will not stop ringing off the hook with many seeking a piece or to advise him on how to spend the MJP payout.

“I made a long-term investment whose fruits will not be seen now but they will benefit my children and grand children. Invest wisely and God will guide you. I have faith you will succeed and one day, you will be in Canaan,” Ogada counselled.

“SportPesa changes lives and I ask you all to game wisely and when you win, spend wisely as well. Don’t rush to acquire anything, you may purchase a house in Nairobi only for it to be demolished,” the previous MJP winner added to the amusement of those gathered.

Good advise

“I have listened and heard your good advise. If you want to know how a house is constructed, you cannot start the project without consulting those who have done it before and I’m pleased to have been with Gordon on this big day of my life,” Korir acknowledged.

The day started at SportPesa Chancery Building headquarters along Nairobi’s Valley Road where Korir was ushered into a convoy of sleek vehicles, riding in a Mercedes S Class with his entourage ferried in a Range Rover autobiography and Toyota Land Cruiser VX.

They party headed down Valley Road into Kenyatta Avenue where curious motorists rolled down their windows to stare at the spectacle. Police officers manning the Kenyatta Avenue/Uhuru Highway round about also looked on in awe before the convoy stopped at Uhuru Park to acknowledge the public.

Korir stepped out of his limousine to greet people including Boda Boda (motor cycle taxis) operating at the Gardens, who mounted an impromptu guard of honour, some requesting him to share some of his winnings while others even offered him money.

From there, the vehicles headed down Haile Sellasie Avenue into Uhuru Highway before turning to Langata Road to Carnivore Restaurant where at last, Korir finally received what on Sunday night sounded as a dream when Karauri called him in the middle of the night to proclaim him the latest MJP winner.

Despite his newfound riches, Korir is not about to let go of his job in West Pokot, saying he still has much to offer to the farmers in the area and the country in any other leadership position in the future.

“I went through school and university before getting my masters for many years and I will not let all that go down the drain. I believe I have a lot to offer to the people of this country.

“This blessing does not mean I stop doing that and coming as I’m turning 37, it is God’s message to me that I have much more to offer and I will do that.”

Samuel Abisai was the first Kenyan to scoop the payout when he cashed KSh221m in August last year. The gaming giants first rolled out the MJP pegged at KSh100m in September 2016.

The amount continues increasing each week until when a winner is found before it is reset to KSh100m.