For once, some good news from Football Kenya Federation
What you need to know:
- Well, 114 teams are taking part in the tournament - believe it or not - many youth teams across the city played their first matches last weekend. This is one move that ought to be lauded is one step forward to giving talent a chance.
- As a sports writer, I would be really happy to inform the public of a tournament held in say Muranga, Nyeri, Marsabit, Isiolo and even Mandera rather than cover boring press conferences. All counties should borrow a leaf from the Nairobi story.
- All FKF branches across the country are already in the election mode, but strangely they are shouting about everything except football in their counties.
On Saturday February 21, 2015 I sat slack jawed and annoyed. I was watching the FKF Nairobi branch Secretary General Steve Oduor revealing that they would launch the Nairobi Champions Cup that would be played alongside other leagues.
The man kept rumbling about the presumed niceties in the offing at a time when our football was in limbo and the row between the FKF and KPL was at its nastiest.
I just couldn’t believe my ears and knowing the federation well, I was sure nothing good would come of it. I was wrong.
According to Oduor, the tournament was to commence in June and would feature all FKF affiliated teams as long as they are based in Nairobi. The tournament received a Sh3 million boost in sponsorship from Riverbank Limited and would be played on a fortnightly basis.
The eventual winner would take home Sh1 million and the rest of the sponsorship money would be used to foot other costs the matches would be played across different venues including Baba Dogo, Dandora, Huruma, Ziwani, Kihumbuini and BP grounds.
I sneered at all this pretence to action from FKF who at the time were very busy putting high hurdles for KPL and holding the top tier league at ransom. What good could come out of Nazareth?
I totally forgot about until early last month when the draw for the tournament was conducted.
I said to myself: “So these people can actually do something commendable! Something worthy of praise”
STEP FORWARD
Well, 114 teams are taking part in the tournament - believe it or not - many youth teams across the city played their first matches last weekend. This is one move that ought to be lauded is one step forward to giving talent a chance.
There are many football fans in Kenyan who have always complained that the bulk of players in the national team come from Nairobi, Nyanza and Western provinces. It is true, but they must realise this has to do with the grassroots organisation of football in these regions. What Nairobi FKF branch has done will be of great significance in the future and by then, all of the national team players will be from Nairobi.
I have watched many tournaments in the country where the grannies show up on pitch side in their chairs to cheer their teams. It is such places that produce the best players.
As a sports writer, I would be really happy to inform the public of a tournament held in say Muranga, Nyeri, Marsabit, Isiolo and even Mandera rather than cover boring press conferences. All counties should borrow a leaf from the Nairobi story.
They shall complain about lack of funds or sponsorship but three million shillings is nothing to county governments which may see the seriousness of the issue. If they cut down on some wasteful expenditure, the money can be raised.
All FKF branches across the country are already in the election mode, but strangely they are shouting about everything except football in their counties.
All the same, kudos to the FKF Nairobi branch for the effort you have made. It may be the blinding light on the road to Damascus that may radically change the attitude of the lords of football in Kenya.
