KPL top guns to contest Kenya Power Cup
Kenya Power Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Ben Chumo display's AFC Leopards team after draw on January 22, 2014 during Kenya Power Charity Cup Tournament launch at The Stanley Hotel. AFC Leopards, Mathare United, Gor Mahia and Sofapaka are the four teams that will participate in this year’s edition of the Kenyan Power Charity Cup. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Leopards came top with 11,875 votes followed by Mathare who garnered 11,348. Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia got 9,804 votes with the tournament’s title holders Sofapaka securing their participation with 3,636 votes. A total of 45,684 votes were cast
- The winning team pocketing Sh1 million and a trophy. The runners up will receive Sh600,000 while the third and fourth placed teams will each take home Sh300,000
- Chumo said, like last year, the proceeds from the tournament will go towards charity, including improving social and sports facilities in various parts of the country
AFC Leopards, Mathare United, Gor Mahia and Sofapaka are the four teams that will participate in this year’s edition of the Kenyan Power Charity Cup after amassing the highest number of votes in the month long fan voting exercise which ended on Tuesday midnight.
Leopards came top with 11,875 votes followed by Mathare who garnered 11,348. Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia got 9,804 votes with the tournament’s title holders Sofapaka securing their participation with 3,636 votes. A total of 45,684 votes were cast.
The voting exercise kicked off five weeks ago with 16 teams in the Kenyan Premier League and four from the second tier league involved.
The voting was done by the public saw fans text the names of their favourite team to the short code 30300.
The four teams will square it out on February 2 at Nyayo National Stadium in a day long football fiesta with the winning team pocketing Sh1 million and a trophy.
The runners up will receive Sh600,000 while the third and fourth placed teams will each take home Sh300,000.
AFC Leopards will play Mathare United in the first match that kicks off at 9am before Sofapaka takes on Gor Mahia at 11am in a repeat of last year’s final.
Speaking during the announcement of the final vote tally on Wednesday at a city hotel, Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo expressed his delight at the voting process.
TOURNAMENT PROCEEDS
Chumo said, like last year, the proceeds from the tournament will go towards charity, including improving social and sports facilities in various parts of the country.
“We are determined to make this tournament better. Last year we managed to upgrade the Dandora Social Hall and we are proud to be involved in this exercise,” he said.
The inaugural tournament realized Sh5.6 million which was channelled towards installing floodlights at Kawangware’s Hope Centre and Nairobi City Stadium as well as face-lifting of the Dandora Social Hall.
Leopards and Gor, who are facing tough continental assignments in later in February, will be using the tournament as part of their preparation.
Earlier there had been rumours that Leopards would skip the tournament but head coach James Nandwa said the team has reconsidered it’s stance on the matter.
“We had considered not honouring the tournament, but we will now participate. We are doing it for the fans who have shown their love for the team by voting in favour of the team’s participation,” said the soft spoken tactician, who is currently with the team in residential training in Mumias.
Ingwe’s camp had been rocked with injuries with centre half Jackson Saleh, Paul Were, Martin Musalia and striker Jacob Keli all side-lined with knee injuries.
