Lucky lot begins to learn Southampton way of football

Southampton FC Football Development Manager Andy Martin, Joshua Otieno and SportPesa Global Chief Marketing Officer

Some 30 young players have begun a high-level football training at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies in Nairobi.

The five-day football clinic that began yesterday is being conducted by English Premier League side Southampton.

The six Southampton youth coaches managing the camp will take the players through the ‘Southampton Way of Football’, which involves skills in ball control, formation, passes, team spirit, striking, dribbling and other basics in the discipline.

“We are here to make these budding footballers excellent on the pitch. We want them to attain values that would contribute toward their future football success,” said Thomas Barret, Southampton Partnership Manager.

Other Saints coaches at the camp include: Daniel Maye, the Lead Youth Development Phase Coach, Daniel Wright (Youth Development Phase Coach), Simon James Locke (Academy Goalkeeping Coach) and Andrew Martino (Football Development Manager – Global).

“Our football development and support staff are looking forward to making a difference through sharing the Southampton Way philosophy and working with SportPesa and the Football Kenya Federation to make this a reality,” Barret added.

FKF CEO Robert Muthomi while explaining the criteria by which the 30 players were selected to join the camp said: “We first had our branch selections where a total of 150 players were chosen. Then the players were sieved during a tournament at a Nairobi school where we remained with 44 before the final 30 member squad was arrived at.”

Muthomi said FKF Kenyan Premier League will make a follow up after the training to gauge the progress of the players as they are part of the feeders for clubs and national team in the near future.

SportPesa’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, Joyce Kibe said their partnership with Southampton is part of making Kenya’s dream for 2022 Fifa World Cup a reality.

“We are committed towards development of sporting talent in the country. This is a journey we began with a vision of creating numerous opportunities for passionate sportsmen through continuous training, engagements and exposure,” Kibe said.