Safaricom (NSE: SCOM) has today announced a KES 3 million sponsorship towards upcoming athletics events in the Coast under the Safaricom Athletics Series banner.
The 14th Edition of the Madoka Half Marathon slated for 5th October 2019 at Ngerenyi Stadium, Taita Taveta County has received Kes 2 Million while KES 1 million has been set aside for the Mombasa 10km Road race taking place on 22nd September.
“Through the series, we continue our sponsorship of grassroots athletics events with the aim of offering aspiring athletes a launch pad from which to pursue their careers at national and international events. We are happy that as a result, great champions such as Daniel Muindi, Panuel Mkungo and Rozina Musembi have been nurtured,” said Michael Joseph, CEO, Safaricom.
More than 1,000 athletes are expected to participate in both races including phanuel who will be one of the favorites for the Madoka Half Marathon title.
“These two races have unearthed great talent proving that Coast region has great potential if given more support like the one Safaricom has been giving us since 2013. We call on more athletes; both veterans and upcoming ones to show up as we will rank all of them,” said Dimmy Kisalu, Athletics Kenya-Coast Chairman.
The Mombasa Road race will be flagged-off at Treasury Grounds with winners set to receive KES 100,000. Second and third place finishers will take home KES.50,000 and KES 30,000 respectively.
The Madoka Half Marathon will be flagged-off at 8.00am at Ngerenyi Grounds, Wundanyi- Taita Taveta County. Winners will receive KES 300,000 with second and third place finishers getting KES 150,000 and KES 100,000 respectively.
“We are very excited for this year’s marathon because my vision of building a high-altitude training camp is coming to fruition. Work on the site is in progress as the Taita Taveta County government has committed KShs 20 million for the construction of the first phase of the camp”, said Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka
This year Safaricom has sponsored ten long distance races and track and field events under the Safaricom Athletics Series. So far four races have taken place including the Henry Wanyoike Road Run, 6th Deaf Half Marathon in Kericho, and National Trials for 1st Africa Deaf Athletics Championships as well as the Iten Road Race.
The remaining races in the Series calendar are the Madoka Half Marathon, Isaiah Kiplagat Memorial Ndalat cross-country and the Mombasa, Kisii, Imenti and Kisumu road races.