KISUMU, Kenya, Apr 9 – Amani Football Club, a local team from Kajulu ward are the champions of Kisumu County BetPawa 6 aside tournament after beating Kosovo FC 1-0 in an exciting final played at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo on Sunday.
Amani FC head Coach Lazarus Owuor Guda attributed the victory to high level of discipline and collective responsibility that guided the team to the finals after beating Nyalenda FC 3-1 in the semi finals.
Owuor noted that the tournament is an exposure to the grassroot team as they hoped for good tidings in the coming years.
“This is a real exposure and I am convinced a number of our players will have the opportunity to play in the country’s big league,” he said.
The Marketing Coordinator of BetPawa Company Simon Mwangi congratulated the Sh. 200,000 winners, saying the company will continue to sponsor grassroot tournaments as it aims to nurture talent and promote soccer in the country.
Mwangi called upon other corporate entities to come together and sponsor such events to strengthen football at the grassroot levels that will in turn act as a feeder to national teams.
“For Kenya to play in the World Cup, we must start early by nurturing talents and identifying potential for growth ahead of the coming World Cup,” he said.
He further announced that the tournament heads to Nakuru County next weekend with registration of local teams currently ongoing.
Already, the Nairobi edition has been played as Betpawa plans to hold such football clinics annually to tap and help grow talents.
-By Ojwang Joe-
