Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has launched a mega soccer tournament known as the Governor Wavinya Cup in Kalama Sub County, together with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials who witnessed the kick-off.
Wavinya, while speaking during the tournament at Liyuni Primary School grounds in Kalama Sub County, said that the tournament they are launching targets 640 teams of young men and women across the 40 wards in Machakos.
She promised that winners at the ward level would take home Sh. 20,000, while those at the sub-county level will be awarded Sh. 200,000, and the top prize would be Sh. 1 million at the county level.
The governor added that her government has prioritised the development of youth talents and exposed them to international arenas.
She noted that her government is determined to exploit the opportunities presented by sports to create sources of employment for the youth and develop Machakos economy.
The governor said the recent pact she signed with FKF to put up a national technical centre was her government’s strategic move to transform Machakos into a regional sports hub.
“My government, through the Department of Sports, Youth, and Social Welfare, is progressively working towards transforming Machakos into a regional sports hub,” added Wavinya.
My dream is to have a decentralised approach to talent development where we will scout for talents at the grassroots level, develop them in our talent academies, and expose them to national and international platforms,” emphasised the governor.
Wavinya said that in her present budget, they are grading football pitches in every ward, where 10 pitches have already been graded, in a bid to support talent among the youth.
She also said they are working closely with universities, colleges, and schools to scout talent among the youth and uplift the sporting spirit in the county.
By Anne Kangero
