Betika’s inaugural Meru Football Challenge kicks off tomorrow (Sunday) at Kinoru Stadium with 48 teams facing off.
The tournament sponsored by Betika na Community, a CSR arm of the betting company, comprises 16 women and 32 men teams who will play the preliminary games on Sunday while the finals are set for March 31.
Speaking during the launch of the tournament in Meru, Betika MD Mutua Mutava said the winning women and men teams will get Sh1 million each while the second runners up will be awarded Sh500,000 each.
Kenya Football Federation Meru branch chairman Ken Rungu said the 48 teams have been selected from all constituencies in Meru in an effort to nurture talent.
According to the Betika Managing Director, the tournament, which is the first in the region, is likely to be held annually to promote sporting in the grassroots.
“Our focus as a company is to help nurture sporting talent across the country. We hope this tournament will help talented young men and women from Meru be spotted and venture into professional football. We believe that there is talent across the country,” Mutava said.
He challenged the county governments to support talent by establishing sports academies where young people can be nurtured.
