The lucky Kenyan who won the biggest payout in African history of KSh221,331,602 on SportPesa was already celebrating correctly predicting 15 out of the 17 Mega Jackpot (MJP) games when the phone call that will forever change his life came through shortly after midnight.
The youngman, who will be unveiled today at a red-carpet ceremony in Nairobi, placed KSh200 on two mega jackpot picks of KSh100 each.
He realised something monumental was in the offing as soon as the French top flight Ligue 1 clash between Dijon FCO at home to Bordeaux ended 0-0 as he had guessed.
Already assured of a big windfall as a bonus winner, the player could not bear to watch the remaining two games of the week’s jackpot – the North London English Premier League (EPL) derby of Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal and the Italian Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Napoli.
The consumer left home to join a friend at a joint in the outskirts of Nairobi where the pair who play together on the SportPesa platform started discussing on what to do with the millions when a call came through minutes after midnight from a new number.
“Do you know who is calling you?” the caller asked. “No,” the winner responded.
After establishing his location, the caller then asked, “Have you watched football?”
“I was watching the Bordeaux game before going out to have a drink,” came the reply.
“Do you know SportPesa?”
“I know (SportPesa), I had bet.”
Had you bet the mega jackpot?”
“Yes.”
“What was the amount of the mega jackpot?”
“KSh221,300,000.”
“You know, my name is Captain Ronald Karauri,” the caller then identified himself as the CEO of SportPesa.
“What? Are you serious! Are you serious!” the winner exclaimed, bursting into joyous laughter.
“What game were you waiting for?” the SportPesa boss went on.
“After watching Bordeaux, I just went out,” came the response.
“You did not watch Napoli?” Karauri posed.
“No.”
“Now, guess what? You have won KSh221,331,602 shillings. You are our first mega jackpot winner, congratulations!”
“Whaaaaaaaaaaat! Whaaaaaaaat! Woooow! I can’t believe it! Thank you, thank you, SportPesa,” the delirious voice at the other end came.
Karauri advised the winner who was screaming to end his night out to which the ecstatic consumer said, “I’m going home right away.”
“We are so happy for you. You are our first ever jackpot winner,” the CEO added.
The announcement of the first-ever mega jackpot winner came only days after SportPesa marked another milestone when it unveiled its agreement with Spanish top flight, La Liga.
Since inception, the company whose slogan is ‘Made of Winners’ has entered into sports development aimed at impacting lives including partnerships with EPL clubs Arsenal and Southampton.
Coaches from the famous Southampton FC Academy conducted a 5 -day training camp in Nairobi that closed last Friday (April 28) in partnership with SportPesa where 30 players from the Kenya Development side participated.
[crp]
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