Nairobi County Executive for Talent and Skills Development, Brian Mulama has announced that the youth soccer championship, sponsored by the county and the European Union Delegation to Kenya, will now be an annual event.
This announcement follows the successful inaugural Europe Day Kenya Football Tournament, where Kobala Girls and Highway Secondary School secured their places for an 11-day training camp in Romania, courtesy of the EU delegation.
“The future winners of the youth tournament, aged between 14 and 18 years, will tour Germany, Belgium, the UK, and other EU countries for exposure,” Mulama stated. The tournament, which featured 64 teams from Nairobi, Homa Bay, Kilifi, and Marsabit counties, showcased the talent of young players, with Kobala defeating Dagoretti Mixed 4-1 and Highway overcoming Ringa Boys 2-1 in the finals held at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Mulama highlighted plans to expand the program nationwide, stating, “We started with four counties, but we’ll roll out the program countrywide and also expand to other disciplines including athletics, rugby, and volleyball.”
Nairobi Governor Johnstone Sakaja hosted the champions before their departure, emphasizing the importance of balancing education and sports. “Strive for excellence both on and off the pitch,” he urged the teams.
Mulama also expressed his commitment to monetizing talents, aiming to turn young athletes into full-time professionals. “Our junior starlets qualified for the U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic in October 2024, and we hope to tap more talents to follow in their footsteps,” he added.
