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How Wanyama played a part in SportPesa’s Sh230m mega jackpot winner’s windfall


Kenya’s newest millionaire on Wednesday narrated how Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama unwittingly helped him clinch the biggest payout in the country’s betting history.

Gordon Paul Ogada, 35, who was unveiled as the winner of a Sh230,742,881 jackpot, correctly predicted 17 football matches played last weekend including Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham in the UK, which ended in a 2-2 draw with Wanyama scoring in the first half.

The father of two used only Sh100 to predict the scores, clinching a prize that eclipsed that won by another Kenyan, Samuel Abisai, courtesy of SportPesa by Sh9 million last November.

“I stopped watching the Liverpool versus Tottenham game and went home when the home team (Liverpool) was leading. At the time, the result dampened my mood because I had played for a draw,” explained Ogada, who was accompanied by his wife to receive the dummy cheque in Nairobi.

“On my way home, a friend of mine telephoned to say that Wanyama had scored for Spurs. I got excited,” he said.

CELEBRITY TREATMENT

Ogada was declared the winner after a draw conducted on live television by, among others, former Kenya international footballer Boniface Ambani on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by his wife Agnes Nasirimbe and twins Ramsey – named after the Arsenal midfielder – and Ryan.

“I really need a few days’ rest before thinking how I will spend the money. But the idea of investing in real estate is tempting,” the community field officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute said.

Ogada was introduced to the public in style, complete with a top celebrity treatment that included riding in sleek vehicles and a dozen limousines to the Carnivore hotel in Nairobi, where he was handed the dummy cheque.

“Our mega jackpot offering is about much more than playing and winning. It represents our will to change people’s lives and shows commitment to our local customers who have been a pillar of support to our business,” said SportPesa chief executive Ronald Karauri.

The win, meanwhile, means the SportPesa jackpot will be reset to Sh100 million as the race to crown the next multi-millionaire begins.