Kisumu will be hosting the national Betika BingwaFest next week starting from Tuesday to Sunday with teams and individuals battling for over KES 31 million prize money.
The multi-disciplinary sport extravaganza is set to bring together 16 football teams (8 men, 8 women), 24 rugby teams (16 men, 8 women), 32 basketball teams (16 men and 16 women), and more than 250 athletes.
Speaking ahead of the national showdown, Betika Group CEO Mutua Mutava said: “This tournament has been more than just a competition. We aimed to have a tournament that mirrored the Olympics, rewarding men and women equally, and it has been such a success. It has been about nurturing talent, strengthening communities through various ways including free medical camps, and inspiring the next generation of Kenyan sportsmen and women.
We remain committed to empowering youth through sports, and BingwaFest has made that possible over the past couple of months as we traversed the country. We look forward to a week of top talent on display across the various disciplines”
Winners in football and rugby, both men and women, will be awarded KES 2.5 million each (KES 1.5 million in cash and KES 1 million in kind to a charity of choice at their region) while the winning teams in the 3×3 basketball will go home KES 750,000 richer and receive KES 1 million in kind to a charity of choice at their region as well.
The first runners-up for football and rugby will be awarded KES 750,000, while the second runners-up are set to receive KES 400,000. In basketball, the teams that finish second and third will take home KES 400,000 and KES 200,000, respectively.
Apart from the team prizes, there will be individual recognition. The Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender and Most Valuable Player will cumulatively pocket KES 50,000, while the rugby MVP and top points scorer will receive KES 50,000 each. In basketball, winners in the dunking competition will pocket KES 50,000, while those in the 3-point challenge will go home with KES 30,000.
Up to KES 12M will be up for grabs in the various track disciplines that will be on show, with both male and female athletes receiving equal prize money. The 10,000m race will be the most lucrative, with gold medalists taking home KES 400,000 as the first and second runners-up will pocket KES 350,000 and KES 300,000, respectively. Athletes who finish fourth and fifth will round off the prize bracket and will receive KES 200,000 and KES 100,000, in that order.
Just like it has been the case in the regional editions, Betika, in partnership with Zuri Health, will host a medical camp throughout the weekend, free for all.
Football action will kick off on Tuesday 15th with preliminary stages at the Moi Stadium and the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, Mamboleo while rugby kicks off on Friday 18th at the Kisumu Polytechnic before shifting to Mamboleo on Sunday for the finals.
Basketball will tip-off on Friday at the Mamboleo Grounds, while athletics action takes place on Thursday 17th, at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, Siaya followed by the awarding during the official opening ceremony on Friday at Mamboleo.
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