PuraVida Sports

By PURA VIDA SPORTS AFRICA REPORTER

The hour as come and Meru’s football fans will be served with an exciting menu of elite football on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) when the star-studded Kuta Collections FC travel to the Kinoru Stadium for their Mozzart Bet Cup Round of 64 match against lower league hosts, Al-Azizia FC.

The match kicks off at 3pm and will see the winner advance to the Round of 32 in the tournament whose winner qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup.

Kuta Collections FC plays under the Pura Vida Media Limited banner through its Pura Vida Sports Africa website brand (www.puravidasports.africa), with the sports media and management consortium backing the team in their first appearance in Kenya’s elite Cup competition that has already drawn major upsets, highlighted by Kenya Premier League giants AFC Leopards’ elimination last weekend by minnows BB Bread FC 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 stalemate in regular play.

Player-coach Augustine Mtiang’a Kuta, who runs the Kuta Collections sports goods outlet, has partnered with Pura Vida Sports Africa to offer a blend of unattached players and young talents an opportunity to showcase their talent while maintaining match fitness.

The team plans to gradually play league football and is using the Mozzart Bet Cup to test the waters and has received massive support from individuals and players alike to make their dream trip to Meru a success.

“We expect a tough match considering the opponent we are facing and the backing that comes with their home advantage,” Kuta said on Tuesday ahead on the team’s travel to Meru. 

“We look forward to leaving blood and sweat on the pitch to get the win and proceed to the next round,” he added.

Counting on experience

Owing to the fact that they don’t play in any league, Kuta Collections FC have kept themselves going through friendly matches, most recently against Police FC, Gor Mahia, Murang’a Seal, Donholm Seniors and Kahawa Pride FC.

“We are counting on the experience in our squad to help us carry the day, with likes of seasoned players like goalkeeper Mustapha Oduor, Alex “Keke” Sunga, former Shabana FC striker Erick Otieno, Somali international Ibrahim Elias and Luke Namanda, among other veterans in the squad,” noted Kuta who has turned out for, among others, Premier League sides Nairobi City Stars and Posta Rangers.

Pura Vida Media Limited’s Founding Managing Editor Elias Makori, who is also an official of Kuta Collections FC, says the decision to partner with the team was important to both give the talented players a platform while also marketing the Pura Vida brand.

“Having been in sports and sports media for a long time, I did not hesitate to come in and support the team when I was called upon by Augustine Kuta with who I respect and with whom I have previously worked at Nation FC,” Makori said ahead on the Meru clash.

“This is an important platform as it helps keep the unattached players match-fit and when they combine with young and talented players, they motivate these young ones a great deal. It behooves us to support such talent and such initiatives, and I call upon corporates to come on board and support our project for the sake of boosting the professional future of these players,” Makori.

Regular updates on Pura Vida website, socials

“Pura Vida Media Limited is proud to be associated with this team as short sponsors and I’m sure we shall give Meru fans some entertaining football that they will talk about for a long time to come,” Makori added.

Updates on Kuta Collections FC will be regular on the website – www.puravidasports.africa – and on Pura Vida Media Limited’s key social media handles: @puravidasportsafrica (Instagram), Pura Vida Sports Africa (Facebook) and @PuraSportsAfrica (X).

Among the exciting young players on the Kuta Collections FC roster are dreadlocked attack-minded Bryan Leseni Tobiko, a Moi High School, Kabarak, alumnus who turned out for Ligi Ndogo before venturing into Portugal for lower league side AC Alcanenense in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.

The midfield will be powered by Kuta himself, with another one to look out for at the centre of the park being 25-year-old Somali international Ibrahim Ilyas Ahmed, better known as “Mao”, who has previously featured for AFC Leopards and Tanzania’s KMC FC, having also turned out for Somalia’s top side Horseed FC, winning the Somali First Division title in his first season in 2021.

The first choice in goal for the exciting Kuta Collections FC squad should be the experienced Mustapha Oduor, a previous regular at KPL sides Bandari, Talanta and Muranga Seal with another experienced player in the side being forward Patrick Ngunyi, a Mozzart Bet Cup winner with Nairobi United and who previously featured for Kariobangi Sharks.

Edwin Buliba, an experienced defender previously at Nairobi City Stars and AP Bomet, should partner in defence with widely travelled Levi Cornel Shiononya who has just returned after a stint in Dubai.

Most experienced player

Probably the most experienced player in the Kuta Collections FC squad is Luke Wafula Namanda whose roll of previous clubs includes Nairobi City Stars, Timsales, West Kenya FC, Nzoia Sugar, Kakamega Homeboyz, AFC Leopards, Tusker FC and Rwanda’s Musanze FC.

Boaz Maeri (ex-Mathare United FC) and Elly Kessy Osotsi (ex-City Stars) add to the invaluable experience.

“It’s quite reassuring when you look at the players in training and see their drive and commitment. It explains their desire to stay match-fit and take their game to the next level,” Makori observed after the team’s final training session at Kasarani Annex.

“It defeats me how such high-quality players are unattached, and it was a no-brainer for me to come on board and work with Kuta in putting this team together to also act as a motivation to the younger squad members. What I can assure you is that this partnership between Kuta Collections and Pura Vida Media Limited will produce players who will be the talk of town in the coming days,” Makori added.

Augustine Kuta’s business outfit, Kuta Collections (call text or WhatsApp 0715251994), deals in the supply of football boots, uniforms and equipment and deliver such equipment free-of-charge within Nairobi and at a cost via parcel countrywide within 24 hours.

They are located in Nairobi within Dubai Merchant Mall, Shop F38, along Ronald Ngala Street, next to Best Lady and opposite RNG Plaza.

“I have been working with the unattached players for several years now and I played for some of them and I thought it was a good idea to give them an opportunity to stay fit and remain in the market,” Kuta, who played for Premier League sides Nairobi City Stars and Posta Rangers, said in a recent interview.

“I’m glad to have partnered with Pura Vida Sports Africa through its founder Elias Makori, a former Sports Managing Editor at the Nation Media Group with whom we also featured in the Cup competition in 2021 through Nation FC,” Kuta added.

Kitting partnership deal

Makori noted that Kuta Collections FC and Pura Vida Sports Africa are at an advanced stage of signing a kitting partnership deal with a Swiss-based company that will further firm-up the team’s foundation.

“During the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, I had successful discussions with the probable kit partners and we shall soon unveil this deal that will inject some excitement into Kenyan football,” Makori disclosed.

Meanwhile, Al Azizia FC, currently battling to get out of the red zone in the FKF Division One Zone A League, having drawn goalless in their last fixture against Strathmore University, and currently have 13 points from 14 games in 14^th spot, only ahead of SS Assad (8 points) and Dimba Patriots (5 points) at the basement.

The Meru side recently celebrated the return of Elvis Ingosi, who missed two matches through injury, alongside captain Victor Mutsoli and Melvin Muthomi while their new signing Ibrahim Sultan “Blackie” could make his Mozzart Bet Cup debut in Wednesday’s match after featuring against Strathmore last weekend.

Al-Azizia’s new technical bench

Al-Azizia will also be boosted by the arrival of a new technical bench, headed by former players Moses “Dube” Odhiambo and Jaffar “Droo” Yassin, after the club jettisoned its previous technical team after a string of poor performances.

“The Al-Azizia FC Management Board hereby informs all stakeholders, sponsors, supporters, and the general public that, following an internal assessment and due consideration of the club’s recent performances, the Board has resolved to suspend the entire technical bench from their duties with immediate effect, effective February 3, 2026,” the club announced the bench’s sacking.

“This decision has been taken in the best interests of the club and forms part of a broader process aimed at restoring competitiveness, discipline, and performance standards at Al Azizia FC.”

Given the fresh lease of life, Al-Azizia will be determined to make a bold statement by eliminating the star-studded Kuta Collections FC at Wednesday’s 3pm kick-off.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Mozzart Bet Kenya Limited recently signed a new three-year sponsorship agreement worth Sh90 million, officially marking the launch of the 2026 Mozzart Bet Cup.

The new deal will see Mozzart Bet invest Sh30 million per year into Kenya’s premier domestic knockout competition from 2026 to 2028, continuing its role as the tournament’s title sponsor and reinforcing its long-term commitment to Kenyan football.

Tournament: Mozzart Bet Cup Round of 64

Match: Al-Azizia FC vs Kuta Collections FC

Venue: Kinoru Stadium, Meru

Time: 3pm