What led SportPesa to be nominated in award

Dar es Salaam. A gaming firm, SportPesa Tanzania, says it feels proud of promoting soccer development in the country since it started its operations in May last year and managed to strike big deals with local soccer giants, Young Africans and Simba.

The agreement has enabled the SportPesa brand to feature on the clubs’ outfits from 2017/18 to 2021/22 seasons.

Simba signed a five-year deal worth Sh4.9 billion while Young Africans did the same with the exception of their contract, which is worth Sh5 billion. The gaming firm also pledged to award Sh100 million to the team that would win the Mainland Tanzania Premier League title.

SportPesa Tanzania Administration and Compliance Director Tarimba Abbas said their firm was now enjoying the fruit of their sponsorships to Tanzanian clubs and football in general due to the fact that some clubs were doing well in both local and international assignments.

Tarimba said Simba, who failed to clinch the Mainland title for consecutive six years, managed to finally win the title last season as Young Africans qualified for the group stage of the African Confederation Cup.

“We are proud to be part and parcel of football development in the country, our target is to see we attain the highest development and our clubs do better in the continental championships,” said Tarimba.

EVERTON TOUR

Tarimba said in order to inspire soccer fans in the country, the firm had to organize a sport tour for a famous English Premier League side, Everton, so they could face teams that would win the first ever SportPesa Super Cup that drew teams from Mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar and Kenya.

Gor Mahia of Kenya won the title and made history to play against Everton at the National Stadium in a well-attended match. World football stars led by Wayne Rooney played for the first time in Tanzania and made soccer fans, players watch them for the first time.

The tour excited many soccer lovers and some players, who are now focusing on playing in major football leagues abroad. The Everton tour brought positive impacts to the Tanzania community and the government in general.

The tour benefited Tanzania due to the fact that the gaming firm renovated the National Stadium to international standards.

Besides that, the tour saw various youth players and coaches benefiting from the Everton grassroots training under the legend, Léon Osman.

Everton players also took part in corporate and social responsibilities programmes like visiting children at Pugu Dispensary, conducting a clinic to the Albino United football team at the National Stadium.

AWARDS

SportPesa was shortlisted in the United Kingdom (UK) Business Football awards last year under the category of Best Brand Activation.

The category involved football for its campaigns with English Premier League giants, Everton Fc and EFL championships outfit, Hull City Tigers, in the Business football awards.

The firm was also nominated in the Discovery Sport Industry Awards to be held in South Africa today at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg. The awards are the most prestigious commercial sports awards in South Africa.

SportPesa has been shortlisted in two entries such as The Best African Sponsorship category, with the overall sponsorship of Everton achieving shortlist, alongside the #t EvertonTZ campaign specifically.

CSR PROJECT

The firm managed to build one doctor’s house at Kizimkazi Mkunguni in Zanzibar and won compliments from Tanzania Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The Vice President was very excited with the project and congratulated the firm for its efforts to invest in the healthy sector in the country. SportPesa’s Tarimba Abbas had a chance to share with the Kizimkazi community on the firm’s CSR objectives on the project.