I believe you have seen on your TV or have come across a billboard with images of Kenya captain Victor Wanyama and his Tottenham Hotspurs teammates; England Captain Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Toby Alderweireld, all with big smile endorsing 1XBET advert.
It's not fitting for both skippers of the two nations, whose gambling vice and addiction have a negative impact on the lifestyle of its majority youths.
More so, for Victor Wanyama, as role model what message is he passing to the youth who see him as a hero and the government had 'banned the endorsements of such adverts by celebrities.'
In addition, for England captain Harry Kane and his fellow players it's a picture that leaves a lot to be desired of; since most African youths who watch EPL in large number and are likely to get hooked to gambling lifestyle as they emulate their heroes.
There is no doubt, that betting has claimed lives of a number of Kenyan youths due to suicide after loss and frustration, but is Wanyama and company to blame for the endorsements?
On the contrary, it is the club and the betting firms' contracts to blame.
This is because England's FA does not condone the involvement of players in the betting and it has restricted both players and managers appearance in betting ads.
It disallows any player promoting a betting advert for his personal benefit.
A case of numbers of players in EPL who have been sanctioned for personally placing bets or appearing in betting ads.
Albeit, for a club there is an exception when it enters a deal with a betting firm, it gives the company a leeway to use the club's players in adverts for commercial reason. That is why you see Wanyama and teammates appear to endorse 1XBET ads.
Thus, seeing that there exists laxity in rules related to gambling deals for clubs and individual players, you realize that neither Wanyama nor Harry Kane and his teammates has control over the adverts they appear in; because their contracts with Spurs entails such commercial activities and endorsements on behalf of the team and not individual.
Hence, as a part of the deal between club and betting firms; players are caught in the 'mix' and cannot be blamed for such endorsements or promotions
It's upon the youths to acknowledge the threats posed by the addiction on betting and other gambling and lotteries related activities are real and shun away.