SportPesa maintains wide-ranging backing of Kenyan football

African online sports betting company SportPesa has renewed its title sponsorship of the Kenyan Premier League football competition and extended partnerships with competing clubs Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Under the new three-year deal, Kenya’s top tier will be known as the SportPesa Premier League. SportPesa’s branding will also continue to appear on the front of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards’ shirts.

SportPesa has also agreed a three-year deal with Football Kenya Federation, the sport’s national governing body. Kenyan newspaper The Star reported that the KPL will receive KES259.7m (€2.1m/$2.6m), the FKF will be given KES69.4m, and Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will receive KES198.6m and KES156m, respectively.

SportPesa’s partnership with the FKF will seek to improve football standards across Kenya.

SportPesa chief executive Ronald Karauri said: “We are extremely excited to be able to partner with these four powerful industry players. As we have always maintained, developing local football talent is a key vision for our company.

“(We will help) get Kenya where it should be; among the great football nations of the world. Partnerships mean a lot to us as they enable us to tangibly impact communities and leave a lasting legacy. The journey of Qatar 2022 (Fifa World Cup) continues and we are honoured to be part of that journey.”

SportPesa also serves as the shirt sponsor of second-tier English Championship club Hull City, which will embark on a five-day tour of Kenya next month. It was announced today (Monday) that Hull will face either Gor Mahia or AFC Leopards in an exhibition match at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium on May 13.