National Olympic Committee of Kenya secretary general Francis Mutuku wants more corporate companies to boost Team Kenya as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games.
On Friday, Kenya Kenya Breweries announced a Sh10m sponsorship for sprinters and national volleyball team Malkia Strikers.
The sprinters are chasing qualification for the Paris Olympics while Malkia Strikers are preparing for the Games after qualifying through the rankings as the top African team.
Mutuku said: “We appreciate Breweries’ support for Team Kenya as we prepare for the Olympic Games. People are always there to celebrate the team at the finish line but we need them to be there for the team during preparations.”
Friday’s deal is an addition to KBL’s Sh30 million to Team Kenya through Nock, aimed at supporting the entire team’s preparations and logistical necessities for the event.
Malkia Strikers will equally share the Sh10m with the sprinters.
“This will help scale up our plans for Malkia Strikers. We were going to have a local camp and we will work with Kenya Volleyball Federation on how to give the team the best possible preparations for Paris,” said Mutuku.
KBL’s sponsorship will boost the entire relay team (4x100m men, 4x400m men, 4x400m women and mixed relay). The athletes are sharpening their skills at Nyayo Stadium under the tutelage of seasoned sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki.
Kenya claimed the men’s 4x400m relay silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games before striking gold in Munich in 1972. KBL have also entered a partnership with the 2022 Commonwealth Games and African men’s 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala.
KBL managing director Mark Ocitti, said: “Our sponsorship of these select athletes is a testament to our unwavering commitment to their success at the Olympic Games."
"Our decision to support them is in line with our Tusker Nexters platform through which we seek to support the next generation of Kenyan talent across various fields, including sports.”
“The remarkable growth we’ve seen in sprinting which has traditionally not been a Kenyan forte, speaks volumes about the potential of our athletes and Ferdinand Omanyala is a great example."
"Our support aims at empowering these athletes to excel and make their mark on the global stage. Similarly, Malkia Strikers’ historic qualification reflects their immense potential and we are proud to stand by them in their journey,” added Ocitti.
Nock president Paul Tergat said the sponsorship is in line with the umbrella body’s commitment to partner with the private sector to uplift the quality and standards of the sports industry.
“We have put in place extensive measures to ensure that the athletes are well prepared for the Games in Paris and with such support, we are confident the team will perform well,” said Tergat.
Kenya aim to send between 80 and 90 athletes to the Paris Games, seeking to surpass the 10 medals from the 2020 Tokyo Games.
