SETTING STANDARDS: FKF Nairobi Provincial League side Umoinner FC empowering the youth

By   ERICK OCHIENG’

Umoinner FC players. PHOTO:ERICK OCHIENG’

Umoinner FC has qualified for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Nairobi Provincial League in 2014.

The Embakasi West-based club amassed a total of 51 points to finish third behind winners Superloaf FC and runners up Spitfire in the 2013 Nairobi County Zone A League.

Head coach Charles Okere says that their focus is to win the Provincial League and make it to the Nationwide League in 2015.

Interestingly, the team is not only a football club but it doubles as a Community Based Organisation that strives to give the youth in Nairobi’s Umoja, Innercore and Tena estates a foothold in life.

The club, which was formed after the 2007- 2008 Post Election Violence as Umoja East Football Association (Uefa), later changed its name on June 21 this year following a first ever sponsorship by Umoinner Sacco, that owns and runs public service vehicles plying the wider Umoja-Innercore route.

Umoinner Sacco officials Christopher Muia (chairman), Benjamin Kamau (Vice Chairman) and Denis Magwambo (CEO) says they have greater plans for the team next year.

“We took over the team as a way of giving back to the community. Our aim in 2014 is to organise high profile friendly matches, build a club house, establish an academy, look for additional sponsors at the same time ensure players are insured,” Magwambo told FeverPitch.

Rising steadily

The team has been rising steadily, winning local tournaments across Nairobi and its environs. This made the club stakeholders to register the team in the FKF District League last season.

They ended the league in third place in 2012 and were promoted to the FKF County League this year alongside runners up Elevate Kenya and champions Kawangware-based Intercity FC. The team is currently training hard ahead of FKF Provincial League kick off early next year and Okere is optimistic his players will be up to the task next season.

“We intend to resume training at our base at Tumaini Primary School after the festive season. I intend to take the players through playing systems, football basics, tactics and formations as we help the new signings blend well with old players,” says Okere.

Umoinner FC has produced players in the Kenyan Premier League like Orji Nnaemeka (Mathare United), Shaban Juma (Sony Sugar), Boniface Onyango and Calvin Masawa (Nairobi City Stars).

Club’s achievements include winning the Mathare Youth Sports Association U16 Zonal Championships (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011) Peace Cup, Eastland’s Community Cup and Embakasi Peace Cup among others.

Apart from the senior team, Umoinner FC also has U10, 12, 14 and 16 years categories formed in 2009 and a girls’ team, Umoinner Babes FC, formed in 2010.

As a Community Based Organisation, the club gives the youth a voice and a chance by ensuring that young people are engaged in community development projects.

Off the pitch the players engage in running car wash businesses, water vending, offering plumbing services, tree planting, repairing local roads and plastic recycling to earn living.

Umoinner FC aims to improve self esteem of the players and young adults by improving their socio-economic wellbeing, besides helping them network with others while preparing them to be responsible and productive young adults in the society. The team yesterday qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing Eastland’s Community Cup in Huruma Estate.                   —[email protected]