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Edwin Otieno

Kayole Calvary Grounds will be used to host several league matches upon its completion in a few months.

Betting firm Betika began uplifting the facility last week.

Football Kenya Federation CEO Barry Otieno recently commissioned the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade of the facility.

“The Kayole Calvary Grounds will be very helpful to the football fraternity upon its completion in a few months-time and I can say Betika came at the right time as we have been experiencing a shortage of match venues countrywide,” Otieno said.

He added: “The grounds will be hosting Division One matches, Division Two fixtures as well as Regional and County league matches.

This is a yardstick in the development of football in grassroots and it will go a long way in identifying and exposing talent especially in Eastlands that has more than 200 teams.”

Crosshead

The ground breaking ceremony held on Thursday saw senior officials from all sides of the partnership oversee the handover of the grounds to the contractor.

It was witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Sports Arts and Culture, Embakasi CDF officials, Kayole residents and sports men and women.

Speaking at the event that attracted hundreds of Kayole and Komarock residents, Jackie Tonui, Betika Marketing Manager, said philanthropy was part of the firm’s deliberate policies of giving back to the community.

“As part of our Betika Na Community initiatives, we have gotten into an agreement with the Embakasi Central Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office to upgrade the community football pitch in Kayole. 

This is our first community pitch, and we plan to spend over Sh100m in the rehabilitation of such community pitches across the country to improve their conditions,” said Tonui.

She observed that grassroots football was struggling due to lack of standard pitches, hence the support doled out by Betika.

 “Currently, grass root teams face the challenge of postponing matches or playing in waterlogged pitches during rainy seasons.

In addition, most pitches are hazardous and are a cause of injuries to players due to their rocky and uneven conditions.

Betika wants to change the game and level the playing fields across the country to give our players a reason to wake up and grow their talent” said Tonui.

Elias Mate, Fund Manager CDF Embakasi said:  “We are happy to be the first beneficiaries of the Betika Na Community field rehabilitation Initiative. From what I have seen and heard, Betika is all about changing the lives of Kenyans by giving solutions that provide long term solutions,” he said.