Kenya’s top sports gaming firm, Betika has extended support towards 8 Kenyan rally participants who will be taking part in this year’s World Rally Championship.
Kenya won the bid to host the sixth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) and the grand event is slated for the 24th to 27th June 2021.
Betika, through the Betika na Community Initiative have given support worth 80 Million Kenyan shillings to the four Kenyan teams, comprising of drivers and
navigators.
The drivers include rally veterans Hussein Malik, Rehan Shah and upcoming favorites Andrew Muiruri and Maxine Wahome.
Betika’s sponsorship includes driver and car preparation throughout the season, operational logistics as well spare parts for the vehicles.
Speaking at the launch, Hussein Malik said: “I’m delighted to have such a great local brand like Betika supporting the team, rallying is not cheap and I know so many good drivers who are locked out of the competition because they cannot afford it. When companies like Betika come to support us, we get motivated to do better, to keep the fight and the love of the sport. We have had months of training and we will strive to finish the race”.
Hussein Malik has been a motor sports enthusiast for many years, starting off as a service crew member and progressing into a rally driver over a span of 8 years.
He was mentored by national rally champions
Azar Anwar and Baldev Chager. Hussein was a WRC safari rally candidate in July 2019 and finished 14th Overall, 10th in the Kenya championship and 5th in his Class.
Maxine Wahome who leads an all ladies’ team for the event noted:
“As an all-female rally team, we have encountered a lot of challenges during the preparations for this event but Betika’s support has lessened the burden. This allows us to compete at our highest levels and we are confident that we are ready to compete with the rest of the world.”
Speaking during the flag-off of Team Betika, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nicholas Mruttu said:
“After an 18-year break, we are happy to see the Safari Rally back home. We are excited that the World Rally Championship is returning to Kenya and Betika is determined to groom these individuals to be the next Patrick Njiru or even better. We are particularly proud of the all-ladies team led by Maxine and this shows our unwavering support of both Kenyan sportsmen and women”.
He adds:
“Over the last 2 years, since the launch of the Betika Na Community Initiative, Betika has invested hundreds of millions majorly towards
grass root football.
This year, we want to spread our wings further and venture into nurturing other sports talents. We will not pressure you to win the race, we just want you to finish it. We are well aware of the vast abilities you have and we would like to hold your hands whenever we can”.
At the launch, CS Amina Mohamed said:
“The Ministry is committed to strengthen partnerships and collaborations with all its stakeholders in order to grow and develop sports across the country”.
“The Ministry’s philosophy is to put the athlete at the centre of all its activities” She adds.
Mr. Mruttu also noted that the government, through the Ministry of Sports, has been at the forefront in supporting Betika’s Initiatives to help nurture the talents of our youth and help them compete on local and international platform.
