By OUR CORRESPONDENT
As the Karamoja Super Cup played out its sixth edition the past weekend at the Samitsi Market Grounds, in Malava, Kakamega County, there was a sense of pride in the strides that this tournament has made and what it means for community-led grassroots football in Kenya.
The annual tournament started in December 2019, by former Gor Mahia FC player Bramwel Karamoja, in his hometown of Samitsi, has grown to become a festival of football and a mainstay in the region’s busy grassroots football calendar during this time of year.
Its strategic positioning, with the finals played on the last weekend of December, means the tournament takes full advantage of the festive season and the break that local leagues usually take in this period. Initially starting as a football tournament only, the festival now includes volleyball and activities for the whole community to celebrate their culture, including creating a platform for local vendors to sell their products and services.
Speaking on the start of the initiative, Bramwel said; “When we started in 2019, our focus was on empowering the youth around my locality in Samitsi, through sport and especially football. I am proud of the strides we have made this far, now covering the whole of Kakamega County with 64 teams competing across categories this year; For football, we have 32 teams competing in the men’s division, with 16 in women’s, and 8 teams each in the volleyball men’s and women’s competitions.”
“Over and above sports, we have also created a platform for our local business communities, in line with our purpose to empower communities through sports, including our local musicians and entertainers. The Success of this tournament would not have been possible without our title partners Betika who believed in our vision from the onset.” He added.
Betika, through its Betika na Community initiative, has sponsored the Karamoja Super Cup since its inception in 2019, providing both technical and infrastructure support, including kit and prize money. The initial tournament in 2019 saw the winners take home KSh 60,000, this weekend’s winners will take home a KSh 500,000 cash prize.
Speaking on Betika’s involvement, Eric Mwiti, Betika Brand Manager said; “It is not an exaggeration to say that at this moment, there is no bigger supporter of grassroots football and sport in Kenya than Betika. We are extremely proud of the partnerships we have with individuals and properties such as the one we have with Bramwel, and the Karamoja Super Cup.”
“This marked our sixth year, here and every year, we are impressed by the growth that we see, both with the teams’ exploits on the pitch, and with the turnout of fans to support the event. Samitsi FC, for example, is a team whose upward trajectory we have noticed since the first Karamoja Cup in 2019.” He added.
Looking to the future, Bramwel Karamoja said; “We are excited to see what the future holds. This tournament has sent players up the football pipeline into the FKF Premier League. This year we had AFC Leopards Chairman and Harambee Starlets Coach Beldine Odemba as part of the guests. This means that there is intent to tap into the rich footballing talent that Western Kenya has, and we will continue to work hard to facilitate that.”
“We know we are doing a good job and we look forward to having an even greater impact on the community through sports with the support of partners such as Betika.” He added.
On his part Eric said; “At Betika we will continue supporting grassroots sports through initiatives such as the Karamoja Cup and BingwaFest, for we know the impact it has on not only Kenya’s sporting landscape but also the community that it sits in. So, you can always count on us!”
