Money from Fifa to fund local football projects must be put to good use

The announcement by world football governing body, Fifa, that it is setting aside close to Sh60 million to promote youth football in the country is good news for talented youth.

That sports activities in the country are in dire need of funding cannot be gainsaid. What has for a long time been lacking is sound management of such initiatives by sports federations, what with recent battle for control of the local Fifa Goal Project by Football Kenya Limited (FKL) and Kenya Football Federation (KFF) at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

What football fans simply need is to have football development programmes running well, not rival associations out to hijack the projects for publicity even after the chest-thumping that has jeopardised the country’s run in continental, global and recently, regional football.

Plans by FKL to start youth leagues in the country from next year to tap talent are well intended, considering that the country has been knocked out of both the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and is expected to be out of competitive international football for at least two years.

Another great initiative is the plan by United Nations Children’s Educational Fund and the Government to start a sports academy at Kasarani next year.

Football projects must be supported by all stakeholders if they are to succeed. With youth programs almost dead in the country, FKL must be transparent on how it will spend the funds if the programmes are to be initiated, sustained and be of benefit to the country.

Past initiatives have failed due to lack of transparency and accountability.