NAIROBI, Kenya, August 18 – Brookside Dairies announced on Wednesday a bumper Sh22m sponsorship for the East Africa School Games that kick-off next week in Mbarara, Uganda.
At a ceremony in Nairobi, the firm’s marketing director, Peter Wesonga, also disclosed six players would be identified in the football competition at the event and given the chance to join Kenyan Premier League (KPL) sides, Thika United and Gor Mahia.
“Indeed, 80 percent of the current squad at Thika United are beneficiaries of this very same scholarship while such players as Hajji Mwachoki who plays for Gor Mahia were scouted through the same scholarship scheme.” Wesonga noted.
He added: “Through our sponsorship, we have been able to get over 50 students pass through our programme where the best five have gone ahead to Thika United club to undergo trials but this time, they will get a chance to join Gor who joined our sponsorship brand.”
Ugandan David Bogere, who turns out for Thika was discovered at last year’s edition and urged other participants to aim for the chance during the event that will run from August 26 to September 4.
“I’m so glad to be playing in the KPL. Things were not easy for me when I came and I was taken to the Under 19 where we won the KPL Under 19 Cup. I’m asking young players to work hard since there is a lot of money especially in Europe,” Bogere said.
Kenya will be represented by 36 team in football, volleyball, basketball, rugby and hockey in the tournament has attracted 120 teams from 16 nations including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Zanzibar among others.