Safaricom has officially welcomed the Arsenal Fan TV (AFTV) team to Kenya, kicking off the five-day AFTV Kenya Tour with a press briefing at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel.
The tour celebrates Kenya’s deep-rooted football culture while reinforcing Safaricom’s commitment to developing grassroots talent and empowering a new generation of football content creators.
Speaking during the launch, AFTV Founder Robbie Lyle said Kenya was a natural choice for the tour, citing the country’s passionate football fan base and the unforgettable celebrations that followed Arsenal’s English Premier League title victory last season.
“Kenya’s love for football is extraordinary. We want to tell authentic stories that connect communities and showcase the passion that makes football a truly global language,” said Lyle.
The visit comes as Safaricom continues to expand its investment in youth football through Chapa Dimba na Safaricom, the country’s flagship grassroots football programme. Since its inception, the initiative has nurtured thousands of young players by providing competitive opportunities, mentorship and pathways to professional football.
The programme’s impact continues to grow. Four former Chapa Dimba players are currently representing Kenya at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), highlighting the programme’s success in identifying and developing elite talent.
Safaricom Director of Brand and Marketing, Zizwe Awuor, said partnering with AFTV aligns with the company’s vision of using football as a catalyst for youth empowerment while giving Kenyan football greater international visibility.
“At Safaricom, we believe great talent starts at the grassroots. Through Chapa Dimba na Safaricom, we have witnessed young players rise from community pitches to representing Kenya on the continental stage. Our partnership with AFTV will help amplify these success stories, inspire more young people and showcase Kenyan football to a global audience,” said Awuor.
He added that the partnership also seeks to inspire the next generation of digital creators, noting that football is increasingly consumed through online platforms.
“Football today is experienced as much through digital content as it is in the stadium. Through our Pata More proposition, customers now enjoy more data at the same price, enabling young creators to produce, share and celebrate football stories that matter,” he said.
Under the Pata More offer, customers purchasing a KSh1,000 monthly data bundle now receive 21GB, giving fans and content creators greater capacity to stream matches, engage with platforms such as AFTV and create football-related content.
As part of the tour, the AFTV team will visit Toi Primary School for a grassroots football clinic with young players, underscoring the importance of investing in community sport and inspiring future football stars.
Running from August 1 to 5 across Nairobi, the AFTV Kenya Tour will feature fan engagements, community outreach activities and interactions with local football personalities, highlighting football’s unique ability to unite communities, inspire young people and create new opportunities both on and off the pitch.
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