NTV, Kwese World Cup show hits road

With just six days to the eagerly-awaited kick-off of the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, leading television channel NTV in partnership with Kwese Free Sports on Friday launched a colourful, five-day roadshow to usher in the world’s biggest sports tournament.

Ahead of the caravan’s flagging off by executives from Nation Media Group and Kwese at Nation Centre at 8am, popular “Genge” musician Jua Cali belted out his most popular tunes, psyching up office-bound Nairobians with the street carnival launching the final countdown to the World Cup.

WINNING MERCHANDISE

The caravan then snaked through to Nairobi streets on to Donholm, Pipeline, Embakasi, Umoja, Kayole and Komarock estates.

The road show, dubbed “Cheki World Cup Live” is geared towards creating awareness of the global event whose 32 matches will be aired live and free on NTV with the opener pitting hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia getting the action underway on Thursday evening.

On Saturday, the caravan will tour South B, South C, Nairobi West, Lang’ata, Madaraka, Ngumo and Kibra estates with football fans along these routes expected to be treated to lots of fun, winning merchandise courtesy of NTV and Kwese in the process.

“We partnered with Kwese owing to a great support that NTV has across the country. We’ve supported sports disciplines and we will continue doing so for our viewers and readers across Nation platforms,” said Nation Media Group’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gitagama.

Kwese Managing Director Monicah Ndung’u urged viewers to anticipate exciting moments thanks to the partnership that will go a long way in bringing 32 games to the comfort of the viewers’ homes.

“This is an opportunity to watch the World Cup on two platforms for free. We have the broadcasting rights and we are going out there aggressively because our audience is mad about sports,” she said.

NTV’s Managing Director (Broadcasting Division) Alex Kobia assured viewers of a world-class quality signal for the matches.

“We will be consistent during the competition, bringing a lot of highlights of matches that we won’t show but, of course, we will have the most relevant games involving the African teams on our screens,” said Kobia.

“Most of the action will also come from the round of 16 to the final. With vibrant convergence desks, thanks to our big pool of reporters and correspondents around the country, our customers shouldn’t leave out any of our products.”

NTV guarantees its audience all group stage matches involving the five African teams at the competition, starting with Egypt’s game against Uruguay.

This contest involving the seven-time African champions against Luis Suarez’ Uruguay is set for the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg next Friday. Besides the contest involving the Pharaohs, football lovers should also stand by for the matches pitting Morocco against Iran and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on June 15 and 20, respectively.

The same for Tunisia’s contest against England on June 18, plus Croatia’s assignment against  Nigeria — arguably Africa’s most supported team — on June 16.

Nigeria’s cast for this match includes Chelsea star Victor Moses, CSKA Moscow’s Ahmed Musa and Arsenal Alex Iwobi.

Besides the group matches, NTV will also relay 15 knockout matches live including the quarter-final contests all the way to the final.