The national government through the State Department of Sports has handed over the site of the contractor for the construction of Asiriam Sports Academy in Teso South Sub County.
The project which will cost Sh54 million is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2025.
Speaking during the site handover at Ochude location, the Kenya Academy of Sports CEO Doreen Odhiambo, said the sports academy will have facilities for all sports including football and athletics, among others.
“The project will cost Sh54 million and it will be completed in 72 weeks. The academy that will sit on 8 acres of land will have a football field, surrounded by 8 lanes for athletics. Other fields will be volleyball, basketball and netball fields being constructed in phase one of the project.”
Odhiambo added that there will be a social hall which will help to generate money for the academy, ICT hub and borehole for water.
The CEO said the facility will help to identify and nurture the talents that are in Busia County, adding that the county will benefit from two sports academies.
“This year we are going to build 37 sports academies in the country. We know Busia has many talents that have not been identified and by setting up this facility in this county, we will be able to tap those talents. I want to ask the parents to support their children in developing their talents.”
Odhiambo advised parents against giving their children’s birth certificates to older sportsmen to participate in sporting activities meant for young people.
“The issue of age cheating has caused our children to be banned from sports. Don’t give out your child’s birth certificate to be used by someone else because if discovered, action will also be taken against you as a parent. There is also an issue of doping that is affecting sports and we should do away with it.”
She also stated that they will soon start to offer sports courses in different sports categories to train coaches who will be working at the facility adding that the academy will also teach life skills.
“We are going to ensure that the locals have been considered in the program of constructing this academy as one way of providing job opportunities.”
Busia County Education quality assurance officer Isaack Wasai said the CBC curriculum provides an opportunity to nurture talents whereby 20% of the students in grade 9 will transition to sports academies to continue exploring their talents.
“Senior schools will have pathways whereby 60% will join the STEM (science, technology, mathematics and engineering), 20% will join the arts and the remaining 20% will join the sports academies. The county will have another academy at Bunyala and with two academies, we will ensure all students get admissions.” He said
Busia Sub County Assistant County Commissioner Jackline Sabulei urged the residents to embrace the project so that they can benefit from the project.
“CBC has given an opportunity for the growth of talents and that’s why I urge everyone from this place to take advantage of this project so that we can nurture the talents and change the status of this area. Let us embrace it and as you have been assured, the first people to be considered for jobs will be the locals,” she said.
Residents led by Erick Okanya lauded the government for the project stating that it will provide them with job opportunities.
“We are happy as the youth because we know there are jobs for us. Many youths are engaging in insecurity issues and drug abuse because they are idle. Through this project, we will have money in our pockets and our area will also develop more,” he said.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
