Three clubs, Kisumu All Stars from Kisumu City, Migori Youth from Migori, and Embu-based 3K FC, have been handed a lifeline after betting giant Mozzart invested heavily in grassroots football
One of Kenya’s leading betting firms, Mozzart, has injected fresh energy into the National Super League (NSL) with a sponsorship package worth over Ksh18 million.The gaming company has partnered with 3K FC (Embu), Migori Youth, and Kisumu All Stars, offering each club Ksh5 million plus an additional Ksh1 million for merchandise in the 2025/26 campaign. The deal is expected to transform the fortunes of the three ambitious sides as they target promotion to the top flight.
Under the agreement, the clubs will don Mozzart-branded jerseys while the company’s marketing material will be visible across match venues. Speaking during the launch, FKF President Hussein Mohamed lauded the deal, describing it as a “solid partnership” that would revitalise grassroots football.
“We are happy that we have a strong partner in Mozzart. With this, we must have discipline in our clubs, and I assure you this is only the beginning, we are going to do more,” he said.
Mozzart Country Manager Sasa Krneta said the firm was deliberately investing in grassroots football, which he described as the “engine room of the game.”
“The total amount we are pumping into the NSL through these three teams is Ksh18 million, a figure rarely seen in the second tier. We believe in grassroots football, just as the great Brazilian legend Pele did,” Krneta said.
The NSL has struggled to secure meaningful sponsorship since Bamba Sport’s exit in 2019, leaving many clubs to rely on fans and well-wishers to survive. Before Mozzart’s entry, only five clubs had stable sources of income. The new sponsorship increases that number to nine, significantly boosting the league’s credibility and professionalism.
For 3K FC, this is their first sponsorship since inception. The Embu-based side, promoted from Division One in 2023/24, averages more than 3,000 fans per match at Moi Stadium.
Assistant coach Moses Munene, a founding player-turned-coach, said:
“This is a massive boost. For the first time, our players will be on payroll. The community will rally behind us, and our ultimate goal is promotion.”
Kisumu All Stars (Otenga), who suffered major setbacks after losing county government support, see the deal as a turning point. Team Manager Rashid Ochieng believes Mozzart’s support is the missing piece in their push for promotion.
Migori Youth, one of the NSL’s longest-serving clubs with nearly a decade in the league, will also benefit. Despite consistent efforts, their promotion bids have often collapsed due to financial shortfalls. This marks their first-ever major sponsorship, with the team now shifting base from Migori Stadium to Awendo Green Stadium.
The Mozzart partnership promises not only to stabilise clubs financially but also to enhance competition, raise professionalism, and foster talent development in the NSL.
It also raises optimism that other corporate sponsors may now be encouraged to invest in a league long starved of financial support.
