Narok Stadium will for the first time host the first Kenya Premier League match on Saturday after it was closed for refurbishment in 2012.
The match will pit Sofapaka against Kariobangi Sharks.
The two teams have also settled on the stadium to be their home ground and all their remaining home matches this season will be played at venue. The clash was scheduled take place at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos County but the authorities decided to play in Narok town.
Narok County director of sports, Benson Kariuki, said they have accepted the requests of the two sides to play their home matches at the stadium. “The funny thing this weekend is that all the two teams will meet at the stadium but Sofapaka will be home,” said Kariuki, who spoke to the journalists at stadium on Tuesday.
He added that the two teams were happy with the size and maintenance of the stadium that is why they agreed the Narok to be their stadium.
“So many wanted the stadium but we settled on Sofapaka and Karoibangi Sharks because we want teams which are discipline and have strong base of fans,” said Kariuki.
He also said the KPL technical team that visited the stadium had indicated that the facicility meets the minimal requirements to host a KPL match.
“We could have hosted KPL match last month after KPL technical team led by GMT Otieno inspected the stadium and granted it a go ahead but we were still working on few things,” he said.
Kariuki expects boost in the local business following the entry of the premier league matches in the region.
“Narok town is the gateway to the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve and is centrally located and most of the teams playing in Premier league can easily access it,” said Kariuki, who added that the locals are hospitable and ready to welcome all the football lovers from across the country to the town.
Sofapaka CEO Emmanuel Kayoyi, who toured the stadium on Tuesday, thanked Narok County Government for allowing them to play at the stadium.
He urged the people of Narok County to turn up in large numbers to watch their matches because they are now part of them.
“The Narok people should now be number one fans for Sofapaka FC because we have one of their own players from the Maasai community and that is Pilipili Malube. The stadium entry fee is Sh100,” said Kayoyi. Kariobangi Sharks’ CEO Ms Quinter Odongo has also confirmed that they will be in Narok this weekend.