SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, July 27- Just two days after being unveiled as English Premier League side Hull City FC’s official shirt sponsor, Kenyan betting firm SportPesa has extended its wings to the South Coast of England, signing a three-year partnership with Victor Wanyama’s former club Southampton FC as their official betting partners.
The Saints, announced the new multi-million pound deal will run for three years with immediate effect.
Southampton FC’s Chief Executive Officer Gareth Rogers, said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with SportPesa in what is by far our biggest partnership in this sector in the club’s history and one of our largest partnership deals to date.”
The deal will see Southampton support the development of young football players in Kenya by sending Football Development & Support staff to the African nation, with young Kenyan players visiting the club’s Staplewood Campus to experience the demands of football development at a Premier League club.
This is almost a similar pattern which SportPesa partnered with North London giants Arsenal, getting on board as the club’s official African betting partner in January this year.
The deal saw Arsenal send some of its community coaches to Kenya where they held a week-long coaching course at the end of May.
“This partnership will allow the club to continue to build its partner portfolio for commercial success on an international scale. Our reputation for player development continues to resonate around the world and we look forward to sharing our unique philosophy in Kenya and across Africa,” Rogers added.
#SaintsFC has today welcomed @SportPesa as its Official Betting Partner on a three-year deal! https://t.co/OeQjjXtT8p
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 27, 2016
Ronald Karauri, the SportPesa CEO, said: “We are grounded to our core values that centre around grassroots sport and community development. Our vision is for Kenya to participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and this partnership is a step in that direction.”
“We look forward to welcoming Saints Football Development & Support staff to Kenya as well as the opportunity to send our young players to the club’s Staplewood Campus to learn the demands of football development.”
The online gaming company also sponsors the Kenyan Premier League, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Nakuru All Stars while they are also the Kenyan Rugby Union main partners having signed a Sh607mn five-year-deal last week.