Sponsorship boost for Dandora ahead of new season

Dandora Youth FC captain Brian Chege (left) receives a dummy cheque worth Sh4.8 million from Skyward Express chairman Mohamed Abdi (centre) at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. [Courtesy]

The new Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One season kicks off on Saturday with a variety of mouthwatering matches on the card.

One of the clubs that are determined to make great strides in the league is Dandora Youth FC who finished eighth overall on the log last season.

Dandora Youth will open their campaign against Malindi Progressive FC this weekend.

The players now have their sights firmly fixed on qualifying for the National Super League after a local airline, Skyward Express renewed a two-year Sh4.8 million sponsorship deal with the club.

"We are now energised to post good results in the league, we will put our best foot forward because to whom much is given much is expected," team captain Brian Chege told Standard Sports.

"This support means a lot to us, because of the background where most of our players come from. The money is going to improve our facilities, it is going to improve our performance, we are going to assure our sponsors that they put support where there is value."

During the check handover at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Skyward Express chairman Mohamed Abdi said the support to Dandora Youth is in line with their mission and vision.

"We want to keep young people busy; we want to keep them off the streets so the rate of crime can be mitigated within our communities.

"It is also healthy for the youths to engage in sports which mould them into active professionals who add value to our communities," Abdi underlined.

Skyward Express Digital Marketing Executive, Brian Wango, expressed confidence in the partnership saying: "We are out to nurture amazing talents from ghettos, and to empower youths in the slums. Dandora Youth FC is one of the avenues that we are utilizing to do so.

"We are very hopeful that this noble support will propel the team to greater heights of making it to the NSL and eventually to the top tier league in the country."

Dandora Youth will open the new FKF Division One season against Malindi Progressive FC this weekend.

The team showed grit earlier this year when they edged perennial rivals Dandora Hotspurs FC2-1 to clinch the two-day 82Cup Football Tournament at the Tom Mboya Primary School in Nairobi in March.