Kayole Calvary Grounds will be used to host several league matches upon its completion in a few months. Betting firm Betika began uplifting the facility last week.
Over the years, Kenyan footballers in the lower tiers have had to contend with breaking sweat on dusty fields owing to a dearth of quality playing surfaces in the country. But that agony might soon be a thing of the past after online betting firm Betika set aside Sh100 million to renovate a dozen pitches within Embakasi Central Constituency.
Football Kenya Federation CEO Barry Otieno recently commissioned the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade of the facility. “The Kayole Calvary Grounds will be very helpful to the football fraternity upon its completion in a few months-time and I can say Betika came at the right time as we have been experiencing a shortage of match venues countrywide,” Otieno said. “The grounds will be hosting Division One matches, Division Two fixtures as well as Regional and County league matches."
The ground breaking ceremony saw senior officials from all sides of the partnership oversee the handover of the grounds to the contractor. It was witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Sports Arts and Culture, Embakasi CDF officials, Kayole residents and sports men and women. Elias Mate, Fund Manager CDF Embakasi said: “We are happy to be the first beneficiaries of the Betika Na Community field rehabilitation Initiative. From what I have seen and heard, Betika is all about changing the lives of Kenyans by giving solutions that provide long term solutions.”