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The Waziri 1XBet Cup Story: Leadership, Legacy, and Community

Author

Gerald Kombo
October 01, 2025

The Waziri 1XBet Cup has grown into one of Kenya’s most compelling examples of how sports, heritage, and community spirit can drive social transformation. Rooted in family legacy and sustained by regional tradition, it has expanded from a simple football gathering into a multi-sport and cultural festival celebrating youth empowerment, unity, and resilience.

Leadership and Legacy

The tournament traces its origins to the late Ali Waziri, a respected patriarch whose passion for football and mentorship of young people inspired its creation. Though no longer with us, his values: discipline, teamwork, and service remain the guiding pillars of the Waziri 1XBet Cup.

Today, his son Salim Waziri carries that legacy forward with energy and vision. He has expanded the Waziri 1XBet Cup into a platform that blends sports with empowerment, keeping his father’s dream alive while opening new opportunities for future generations.

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"The teams can actually work well together and can actually rise up. And we're really, really trying to look at that. How can we be able to provide an empowerment program for these young people? Kama ni watu waweze kupatiwa masomo, ama wapate mambo ya biashara, ama wengine warudishwe shule na kupewa training kadhaa. Hii ni kitu tunangalia sana."

The story of the Waziri 1XBet Cup is therefore one of continuity: the vision of a father, sustained and expanded by his son.

Core Team and Impact

Behind the scenes, Manzuru Okvaro, Collins Sicheye, and Victor Opondo hold the Waziri 1XBet Cup together through organization, mentorship, and logistics. Their contributions give the tournament stability and credibility, keeping it grounded in the community it serves.

Expansion, Diversity, and Community

From its football roots, the Waziri 1XBet Cup now embraces basketball, rugby, and unique community events like boda-boda and Black Mamba bicycle races.

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"Basketball itakuwa uwanja wa most, tutakuwa na raga, chini tutakuwa na football, kila area inafanya kitu. Na nakuambia juya hii boda-boda race ambaye ningependa kufanya. Sio boda-boda ya petrol. Mindaka boda-boda ya zamani, black mamba. Tunataka mji yote iwe out of the celebratory spirit, ukiwa area yoyote unaingia kwa kitu, ukifanya na ukafurahia."

The festival goes beyond sport by supporting girls with sanitary items, providing wheelchairs to the disabled, guiding youth into entrepreneurship and education, and including elders through traditional games and culture.

This holistic approach makes the Waziri 1XBet Cup not just an event, but a celebration of community life.

Partnerships and Sponsors

The Waziri 1XBet Cup thrives on strong partnerships that bring both resources and social value:

  • 1XBet, represented by Kennedy, has been a consistent partner, supporting grassroots football and inspiring the young generation.

  • Royal Eye & Ear Hospital, represented by Karen Wanjiku, Corporate Marketing Executive, provided free medical checks during tournament games across Kitale and Kakamega strengthening the Cup’s health and wellness mission.

  • St. John Ambulance, represented by Stellah Sakina, Lead Paramedic, has ensured safety and emergency support throughout the competitions.

Together, these partnerships underline the Waziri 1XBet Cup’s holistic approach: health, safety, and opportunity are placed at the center alongside sport.

Patronage

The growth of the Waziri 1XBet Cup has been strengthened by the patronage of Big Ted. His mentorship, networks, and resource mobilization have expanded opportunities for participants, while ensuring the tournament’s sustainability.

Through his support, the Waziri 1XBet Cup has gained visibility, partnerships, and the ability to make a lasting impact on mental health, youth development, and social cohesion.

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"Hii kukuja pamoja is what we are lacking in our communities... So it's a way of us impacting society by providing things that will help mental health ya watu wetu."

Why It Works

The Waziri 1XBet Cup succeeds because it combines heritage, innovation, and collaboration:

  • The founding vision of the late Ali Waziri

  • The transformative leadership of Salim Waziri

  • The dedicated work of the core team

  • The strength of committed partners like 1XBet, Royal India Hospital, Royal Eye & Ear Hospital, and St. John Ambulance

  • The patronage and mentorship of Big Ted

Together, these forces have turned the Waziri 1XBet Cup into a movement: one that unites, uplifts, and empowers Kenyan youth while preserving a legacy of community spirit.