SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri has expressed his deepest sympathy for Kenyan boxing champion Zarika Fatuma following her latest downfall in Mexico.
The former World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion lost her title to Mexican Yamileth Mercado in November thanks to financial trouble following the exit of SportPesa-a betting firm which had been sponsoring many other sports entities in the country.
Speaking on the bout, Zarika wished Sportpesa was in business insisting that the firm was unfairly forced out of the business.
“Sportpesa was a firm that was out to help sportspersons and sports at large. When it was in operation, everyone, including myself, was very happy,” she said.
“I managed to train with high caliber coaches and was marketed and supported to the fullest. Fights were arranged, hyped and everything went on well. I was a real champion.
“But someone never wanted Sportpesa to thrive. Someone never wanted to see growth in Sports, so he/she decided to frustrate Sportpesa. They unfairly kicked out SportPesa, and the whole country is feeling the pinch,” she insisted.
She also narrated a painful experience that led to her defeat.
“It was a very difficult experience. First, I traveled to Mexico without coaches because I could not afford their tickets.
“It’s even more painful because the government, through the ministry of sports, promised us two tickets for the coaches but they never fulfilled the promise,” she said.
And Ronald Karauri has also come out to show his concern hoping that SportPesa will be back in the business to rescue Kenyan sports.
“Really sad to see this. Fatuma Zarika InshaAllah we shall be back soon and continue what we were doing together. I hope we shall still have the opportunity to unify all the belts and bring them to Kenya,” Ronald Karauri has tweeted.