The former England international Osman implores English Premier League teams to support African football.
Leon Osman, the England international and Toffee legend, has made a rallying call to English Premier League sides Everton and Southampton FC to support football in Africa.
The former Everton star made the remarks during his three-day tour of Kenya this week.
His visit was aimed at rallying support for the Kits for Africa initiative, aimed at making players and supporters of Everton, fellow EPL side, Southampton FC and Championship outfit (first division) Hull City donate kit and equipment to impoverished teams across Africa.
“To come to this place and see grassroots football and how the players are enjoying the game on the Ziwani pitch is amazing.
“This is a long way from England where clubs take players as young as six and train them on immaculate pitches,” said Osman, who made the most appearances for Everton in the EPL.
“To come here and see the enthusiasm from the players on such a pitch and to see teams from communities from Nairobi is fantastic.
“The desire shown by both teams is fantastic but as you can see, except the team that has SportPesa-sponsored kit, many players cannot play because they do not have the necessary kit.
“There are many people here on the side lines, who are unable to play and I’m asking you to support Kits for Africa so that we can give a chance for more young players from the grassroots,” Osman implored in his plea to Everton, Southampton and Hull.
Shipped to Africa
The three clubs will also set up deposit bins around its stadiums where supporters can donate kits that will be collected at the end of December before being shipped to Africa for distribution. Fans can donate kits at all home games throughout the month of December.
In a bid to further raise awareness for the initiative, Hull City Tigers will wear ‘Kits For Africa’ (K4A) branded shirts during their match with Derby County on December 26.
Having presented both teams with uniform, Osman spent the afternoon at the Kariobangi Grounds on the other side of the sprawling informal settlements of the Kenyan capital where he encountered Kariobangi Youth FC and Korogocho Youth Combined take on each other.
“Seeing goats graze as the players play is an astonishing sight and this is the reason they need all your help to make them realise their dream of playing professional football,” Osman said in one of his piece to cameras for Everton TV.
At Kariobangi, he met Harambee Stars assistant head coach, Stanley Okumbi, who took ownership of Kariobangi Youth having been born and bred in the area.
“I used to play for this team and when I made it, I decided to own it to prove to the youth from this area they too can make it,” said Okumbi.
