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Leading Nairobi Gubernatorial Aspirant Richard Ngatia has pledged to support grassroots football in the County.
Speaking ahead of the finals of annual off-season Kothbiro football tournament, Ngatia said Youths need to be engaged with talent nurturing initiatives.
“Sports and especially grassroots sports which is responsible for the growth of talents is in my heart. This is why I am sponsoring this tournament to show the people of Nairobi that I Have them at heart with or without the Nairobi Governor’s seat,” said Ngatia.
The tournament this year received a shot in the arm after securing sponsorship from Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Richard Ngatia who came in to boost the tournament several years after the former betting firm sponsor pulled out.
The tournament enters the finals this week at its traditional Umeme grounds in Ziwani Starehe constituency, Nairobi.
The tournament this season has had a smooth run with referees and grounds being paid promptly.
After several years of turmoil where teams’ prize money took long to be paid or went missing altogether to the question of timely payment of referees and match logistics, the sponsorship from Ngatia, who has declared interest to run for the seat of Nairobi County Gubernatorial seat at this year’s general elections, has gone a long way to restore confidence in how the tournament is run.
Ngatia singlehandedly is the man behind the rock solid sponsorship of Kenya’s biggest off-season football tournament Kothbiro.
He inked the deal with the Kothbiro Management last year in December.
The deal which has so far seen the smooth running of the tournament also includes the prize money for the winners and the 2nd and 3rd runners up.
Ngatia who is planning to vie on the azimio ticket signed the deal in the presence of Ziwani MCA Millicent Mugadi who has been instrumental in securing the deal.
Local and foreign scouts are expected to throng Nairobi’s Ziwani grounds to spot talent as the 43rd edition of the Koth Biro off-season football tournament enters the finals stage.
The top four teams at the end of the competition will receive prize money from the tournament sponsor Richard Ngatia, the incoming Nairobi Governor.
The winners will take home Sh300,000, runners-up Sh100,000 and third placed team walking away with Sh50,000.
Tournament organiser, Paul Polosa has urged teams to keep time, while appealing to fans to maintain high discipline throughout.
