By Pura Vida Sports Africa Reporter
In a groundbreaking move set to transform grassroots football in Kajiado County and, hopefully, in Kenya generally, lower-tier outfit Namanga River Football Club has secured a historic three-year, Sh25 million sponsorship deal with UK-based sports management firm GMI Sports International Limited.
Signed in Nairobi on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), the partnership marks GMI Sports’ first-ever venture into Kenyan sports, offering an institutional "life vest" to an ambitious lower-league underdog on the cusp of an aggressive infrastructure and talent revolution.
Under the comprehensive agreement, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One side will undergo an elite technical overhaul. The club will establish a senior men's team, a reserve squad, a women's side, and a specialized youth academy catering to children from the age of eight.
GMI Sports' international sports director Jason Brewer (second left) and Namanga River FC Secretary Daniel Mutua sign the sponsorship deal as Harambee Stars legend Dennis Oliech (second right), GMI Sports' Ann Wanjiku Muchai and Namanga River FC CEO Abdirahman Ali 'Manich' look on. (Photo / Elias Makori)
The Vision: "Dollars in the Ground"
For GMI Sports, spearheaded by international sports director Jason Brewer, the decision to back Namanga River FC combines a love for a classic underdog story with strategic sports business development.
“Why Namanga River FC? Because this is a community-based organization and is supporting the community. I love the underdog story and I’d like to see the club move from down to up… GMI Sports is about investing and supporting football and football infrastructure. We are here to put dollars in the ground," Brewer explained. “We want to see players make the transition from playing on the streets to professional football."
Kenya's football legend Dennis Oliech (left), GMI Sports' Ann Wanjiku Muchai and Issa Kuria, Director at Namanga River FC, also a former football star, cut the cake to celebrate GMI Sports' Sh25 million sponsorship deal with Namanga River FC in Nairobi on Wednesday. (Photo / Elias Makori)
Brewer, who previously ran an Australian league team and successfully mentored his own son from a 17-year-old pro nurtured at Charlton Athletic to a permanent squad member at EFL Ligue One side Sheffield Wednesday, believes Kenyan football is on a massive upward trajectory.
Ashley Maynard-Brewer, a 27-year-old goalkeeper, permanently transferred to Sheffield Wednesday on July 31 and Jason uses his personal experience guiding his son through the high-pressure transition from home to professional European leagues to shape how GMI Sports intends to manage, transition, and support young talent in Kenya from street football to pro leagues.
The Namanga River FC squad celebrates lifting the Northern Zone Pool B title in August. The club was awarded Sh100,000 by Football Kenya Federation. (Photo / Namanga River FC)
Pointing to the expansion of local infrastructure ahead of upcoming continental tournaments, Brewer – who is also the CEO at Marula Mining - emphasized that Kenya's football future extends far beyond Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosting duties.
Infrastructure, Kits, and Coastal Long Hauls
The GMI Sports-Namanga River FC partnership addresses immediate sustainability by moving beyond mere cash injections that include a dedicated Sports Complex. GMI Sports plans to purchase land in Namanga to construct a modern community stadium, training centre, and academy.
“Clubs in Europe own stadiums and that's how they are survive challenges,” noted Brewer, targeting a construction kickoff within the three-year window.
GMI Sports have also planned a commercial kit launch in a separate technical sponsorship that will introduce a new kit and goalkeeping glove manufacturer, doubling as the brand's official launch into the wider East African market.
GMI Sports international sports director Jason Brewer with Namanga River FC CEO Abdirahman Ali 'Manich' (centre) and club captain Sabir Kassim during the signing of the Sh25 million sponsorship deal between GMI Sports and the club in Nairobi on Wednesday. (Photo / Elias Makori)
And from next month, GMI Sports say they will fly in international professional support to conduct elite coaching clinics in Nairobi and Namanga.
The financial injection is a dream realized for a club defined by sheer grit. Formed in 2004, Namanga River took a long hiatus before reforming in 2023. Led by captain Sabir Kassim “El Capitano” and inspired by former striker Peter Ndungu, the team won the County League in 2024, finished as Kajiado County Regional League runners-up in 2025, and recently won an exhausting Northern Zone Pool B campaign that required traveling across Machakos, Kitengela, and other far-flung venues, at one point even forcing players to run eight kilometres to a match just to avoid a walkover.
For lifting the Northern Zone Pool B title, the club was awarded Sh100,000 by Football Kenya Federation.
From left to right: GMI Sports' Ann Wanjiku Muchai, Jason Brewer (GMI Sports international sports director), Sabir Kassim (Namanga River FC Captain) and Abdirahman Ali 'Manich' (Namanga River FC CEO) during the signing of the Sh25 million sponsorship deal on Wednesday. (Photo / Elias Makori)
Wisdom from a Legend
Kenyan football icon Dennis Oliech was present to witness the signing, offering candid advice to the rising club. Drawing from his own testing experiences sponsoring Dagoretti Santos, Oliech warned against the pitfalls of sudden funding.
"Sponsorship is hard," cautioned Oliech, a former Mathare United and Gor Mahia FC striker who later turned out for Qatar’s Al Arabi FC before moving to French Ligue 1 sides Nantes, Auxerre and Ajaccio. "Money should not change you in the wrong way. Officials should spend wisely. At 24 or 25 years, it is hard to turn pro, but you will make the road for others."
Oliech, who also had a stint at stint at Dubai’s CSC, highlighted the immense potential of the next generation, noting that the sons of local legends Godfrey Osama and Osborn Monday are already breaking into the Under-23 Harambee Stars setup.
Reflecting on the monumental shift, Namanga River Youth Secretary Daniel Mutua expressed immense gratitude: “This contract gives our players a clear, professional pathway to paid football while keeping the club deeply rooted in the community that built it.”
Takela Mining's Edward Ruheni (standing) addresses Namanga River FC players during the signing of a sponsorship deal between the club and GMI Sports in Nairobi on Wednesday. (Photo / Elias Makori)
Takela Mining's Edward Ruheni echoed the sentiment, stating that the international firm is incredibly proud to anchor its sports business by putting its faith and resources directly into local Kenyan talent.
“Namanga River FC has been in existence and with this sponsorship, we hope that the talent of these players will not end in the villages. I’m calling on other supporters to help in securing good fields of play for football and other sports,” Ruheni, also the General Manager, East Africa, at Marula Mining and Nyorinyori Graphite Mine, noted.
Namanga River FC CEO Abdirahman Ali “Manich” said the club has endured untold challenges and will be revitalized by the GMI Sports sponsorship: “The community of Namanga has been assisting us and while we have landed this sponsorship, we shall keep nurturing talents from other teams. This team is a community team and we shall unite with the Kajiado County community to develop this talent.”
Kenyan football legend Dennis Oliech (left) joins Namanga River FC players and officials in celebrating their sponsorship deal with GMI Sports in Nairobi on Wednesday. (Photo / Elias Makori)
Namanga River FC Timeline Highlights:
2004 — Club Inception: Founded as a community team to nurture raw youth talent in Namanga.
The Intermission — Extended Hiatus: The club stepped away from active league competition for nearly two decades.
2023 — The Rebirth: Reformed with a renewed vision to uplift local football.
2024 — Immediate Success: Returned to competitive play and instantly clinched the Kajiado County League title.
2025 — Regional Ascent: Finished as runners-up in the Regional League, unlocking national-tier promotion.
2026 — The Legendary Run: Won the grueling Northern Zone Pool B title—famously running 8km on foot to avoid a walkover—earning a Sh100,000 FKF prize and Division One promotion.
October 2026 — Corporate Masterstroke: Inked a life-changing Sh25 million, 3-year international deal with GMI Sports to build an academy and a dedicated community stadium.
