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The oldest inter-club football competition in the country, FKF-Cup, has gotten a shot in the arm following the announcement of a three-year Sh 60 million sponsorship deal from gaming firm Mozzart Bet Kenya.

Football Kenya Federation yesterday signed the deal that will cater for organization,live-streaming, branding and logistics of running the 67-year-old competition. Annually, Sh 20 million will be set aside for this tournament.

The Round of 32 starts this weekend with 16 games lined up as all eyes will be firmly on defending Champions Gor Mahia as they look to retain their Cup that was won in 2021. The Cup will now be known as Mozzart Bet Cup and will feature 32 teams.

K’Ogalo is so far the team with the most titles in this competition standing at eight followed by rivals AFC Leopards SC at seven. The prize winner of the 2023 competition will take home Sh 2 million with the runners-up on Shs 1 million.

The total prize money package is estimated at Sh 4.2 million. During a media presentation of the contractual arrangement between the two parties at Westlands  Golden Tulip Hotel, FKF Vice-President Doris  Petra lauded the new dawn as a welcome move for the development of football.

“We want to appreciate our new partners because they believed in us even when things were challenging. We both believe in the joint development of football in the country and so with Mozzart on board, we believe that our youth will be successful. I want to appreciate all partners who will help us grow football at the grass roots through this venture. We are coming from a time where only adhering partners could work with us but now we are happy to find a committed sponsor joining us,” she stated.

Mozzart Bet Kenya Country Manager Sasa Krneta on his part has lauded the FKF for its vision for football and that it made sense to come on board through the FKF Cup. “We are here to show support to a great cause that will grow football in Kenya. This Cup we are sponsoring is coveted by most teams and therefore very popular.

As a Brand, we are proud to be associated with such initiatives and over the next three years, we want to see football at the base grow. There is a need to see the development of football back on the agenda especially since Kenya has been readmitted by FIFA.

This competition is important because the winners will be the Country’s Representatives in the CAF Confederations Cup.”On his part, FKF CEO Barry Otieno heaveda sigh of relief after what has been a difficult period for the Federation that was initially suspended in November 2021.

“We have undergone a trying phase as football stakeholders and so with thisnew deal, it feels really good to be back.