Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is targeting 22,000 public primary schools countrywide in the World football governing body (FIFA) pilot project for grass roots women football development program set to cost Sh. 100 million.
FKF CEO Robert Muthomi made the announcement when he officially opened a coaching course for 22 sports teachers drawn from various primary schools who this week will be taken through a coaching workshop.
“The whole program will cost approximately Sh.100 million catering for training, transport and accommodation for trainees during the entire program” said Muthomi during a media briefing held in Mombasa.
FKF women football development officer Doreen Nabwire said the program was significant in the sense that it will nurture women’s talents, suppress social vices as well as empower girl child in sporting activities.
“We are targeting girls because they were in the recent past found victims of social vices like early pregnancies. We want also to nurture their talents at their tender age so that they can build a brighter future in sports,” said Nabwire.
FIFA Women Football expert Rachel Pavlou, in May 2018, toured Kenya to assess the country’s Women football landscape and through her findings, the World Governing Body will through FKF undertake coaching courses, referees training and leadership workshops for former and current women footballers.
The project comes after Kenya was selected to pilot a new women football development program whereby FIFA is aiming to reach 60 million female players by 2026.
Muthomi says that FKF will also initiate U13/U15 leagues through partnerships with Primary Schools, which offer a conducive environment for young female footballers to hone their skills.
Two more coaching courses have been lined up in Kisumu and Nairobi, with referees courses set to be held in Meru later in December.
Branch Women Representatives will also be taken through leadership workshops to equip them with skills that will help them better coordinate the activities within their respective branches.
By Hussein Abdullahi
FKF to empower young girls in sporting activity
