Arsenal coaches kick-off third SportPesa camp in Nairobi

FKF CEO,Robert Muthomi greets Arsenal coaches Simon McManus and Imran Hamid. Looking on are KPL CEO Jack Oguda and SportPesa Global CMO,Joyce Kibe

Re-branding the Kenyan game into an exciting football brand is critical in achieving the country's aim of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. 

It is for this reason that 65 local coaches converged in Nairobi on Monday for the third SportPesa Arsenal Training Camp, optimistic they will learn invaluable lessons that will help them emulate the famous 'The Arsenal Way' that has captured the imagination of the world. 

During the launch at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies, speakers lauded the initiative as the Arsenal coaches led by Simon McManus promised to build-on what was achieved in the previous two camps as 15 goal-keeping coaches joined the trainees for the first time.

"Arsenal is one of the most supported football team in Africa and that is because of the way they play. We are facing a crisis in Kenya over lack of entertaining football. Fans need to be entertained, not just playing for the result.  "We should have a more exciting brand of football to attract more corporates and raise the profile of the sport," Football Kenya Federation CEO, Robert Muthomi, told the media.  "Football development has suffered in this country due to poor leadership and lack of corporate goodwill. This initiative from SportPesa deserves to be commended and emulated.  "FKF commits to ensure SportPesa's global partnerships aimed at benefiting local football are sustained because of their invaluable skill transfer and we are keen on leveraging on them to grow our game as they get brand visibility," Muthomi underscored.

 "Arsenal play attractive football, we are happy to have their coaches here to give our coaches new ideas on playing football from one of the top clubs in Europe and the World. Arsenal won the FA Cup in an exciting final against Chelsea and we have a lot to learn from them.  "It was important to have goal keeping knowledge. Our head coaches must also have the knowledge of goal keeper training too and that is why the national team set up is here," Andre Spiers, the FKF Technical Director, added.

On his part, the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) CEO, Jack Oguda called on the trainee coaches drawn from the SportPesa Premier League, FKF National Super League and FKF Women Premier League to make the most of the rare opportunity.

 "They are here to build Kenyan football to greater heights and it you should put what you learn here into practise so that Kenya can have a better CHAN (Africa Home Nation Championships) next year," Oguda emphasised. 

SportPesa reiterated their commitment in sustaining the Arsenal camps in their mission to ensure the country's football develops to international standards.  "We shall continue having Arsenal camps in Kenya annually and they will expand to other countries such as Tanzania. In future, we shall include more clubs from the grassroots, watch this space," SportPesa Global Chief Marketing Officer, Joyce Kibe emphasised.