SportPesa once Kenya’s top betting site is currently undergoing tremendous changes. The organization was, however, banned by the Kenyan government from conducting its business in the country. The ban came about after an investigation was done, and it was discovered that the company had tax evasion cases. For this reason, SportPesa has seen itself making losses and losing the market. Kenya was the first country that contributed to the growth of the company.
According to the CEO, the company made multi million profits over time since its inception of operations. As a result, the company-sponsored local sporting events in the country. This included the Kenya premier league among them Gor Mahia and Afc Leopards. This saw tremendous growth in these teams hence improved performances both locally and internationally.
Who is to blame.
Blame games shifted from one side to another over the past couple of months, ever since the company operations were halted in the country. According to the Company CEO Ronald Karuri, SportPesa was failed by Kenyans. The boss insists that Kenyans was unable to support the betting firm, he went on with a series of posts on Twitter claiming that a few individuals united to bring down their own.
Operation licence
These were in response to a Tweet that was made by prominent city lawyer Donald B. Korir who was supporting the steps taken by the Kenyan government to revoke the operational license of SportPesa in the country. Ronald further claimed that Kenyans are always willing to promote foreign investments and generate revenue for them at the expense of their own companies. He emphasized betting sites such as Bet 365, which has become even more popular in the country, yet it is foreign investment.
Termination of contracts.
Most SportPesa contracts have been terminated with the latest being the contract with leading English Premier League side Everton FC . The club on Sunday announced that it would no longer partner with SportPesa. This deal was rumored to have been worth over 900 million Kenyan shillings. Through a statement from the team’s website,it stated that the decision was because of a strategic review of operations.
“This has been a difficult decision but one that allows us to best deliver on our commercial plan and to grasp the new opportunities now open to us,” Said in the club statement released. These seemed to hint that the club had got a new sponsor that would take over from SportPesa. In Kenya, SportPesa has parted ways with all Kenyan teams that it used to sponsor, including Gor Mahia, AFC leopard, and the latest being the Kenya National Rugby team after the government canceled its license.
Other deals.
However, the company still has other deals that it had remained with that includes sponsoring another England team Hulcity and the Italian side club Torino. In Tanzania, where is their significant market the company has sponsored teams like Singida United, Simba, Yanga, and Namungo. South Africa’s Capetown City also enjoys the companies sponsorship.
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