Newly elected Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials in Elgeyo Marakwet County will partner with primary and secondary schools to promote youth talent in soccer.
FKF Chairperson Boaz Kaino said the federation will train teachers in coaching so that they can be able to train and nurture the young talents saying this will ensure that the students will excel in football by the time they clear their studies.
Kaino was speaking after retaining his seat during elections held at the Tambach TTC said FKF had conducted one training which he said had improved football saying they will ensure that more trainings are conducted during their term in office.
The chairperson added that his office was planning to have leaders at the sub branches who will be mandated to conduct football activities saying lack of leadership at the sub branch level was affecting the scouting of talents at the grassroots level.
He said more emphasis is placed at the elections of FKF leaders at the county and presidential level leaving out the sub branches yet this is where the talent is.
“We will ensure that leagues from the sub branches are vibrant as they feed to the county, regional and division 2 leagues,” he said.
Kaino therefore said with increased leagues, they will have to increase the number of referees to enable them handle matches at the grassroots levels.
The Chairperson said the federation will ensure that serving referees are taken for refresher courses even as they train new ones.
Franciline Kiprop who was re-elected as the woman representative said lack of funding had affected women soccer saying she will work to ensure that the county benefits from the funds set aside by Fifa to promote women soccer.
She appealed for sponsorship of female soccer in the county saying due to the terrain, most soccer teams are not able to travel for matches.
By Alice Wanjiru
