Eto’o Laikipia Football Academy opens

Cameroon’s forward and captain Samuel Eto’o.[PHOTO:AFP]

LAIKIPIA COUNTY: The Samuel Eto’o Laikipia Unity Football Academy and Environmental Education Centre was opened last Sunday in Laikipia.

The academy, whose objective is to help talented players achieve their goals on sports and academics, is set to have its first intake of 12 boys in January 2015. The girls will not be left out as they will be enrolled in the academy in the second intake.

The academy is an initiative of the Cameroonian football star Eto’o and Zeitz Foundation in collaboration with Laikipia Wildlife Forum and commercial ranches and conservancies in the area.

The academy will not only focus on football but is also geared towards addressing livelihoods and environmental issues affecting the community with sports being their major mobilising tool.

Director of Zeitz Foundation Liz Rihoy said they joined hands with Et’oo after they identified the needs of the people of Laikipia. “We joined hands after identifying the needs of the locals, we came together for a common goal to give them a better environment, education and also avenues for talented players grow in the sport.”

The academy will be a boarding facility and the dormitories will accommodate 120 girls and 100 boys. Players will be selected based on their football prowess. Laikipia County will have a lion’s share of 80 per cent while other counties will share the remaining 20 percent players.

They focus on football due to its pulling power but will bring in volleyball, basketball and tennis later as the stadium offers facilities for those sports.

The academy will recruit talented players from the tender age of 10 years who will go through primary school and later secondary school with prospects of playing for international football clubs. Laikipia Programme manager Njenga Kihiro said players who excel will be better placed to get opportunities in top European clubs.

“Etoo joined us with an aim of giving an opportunity to young Kenyan players to join top leagues in the world just like him,” Njenga said.

He also added that they were working closely with Mathare Youth Sports Association for better results. “MYSA have been very supportive to our initiative we are confident we will achieve our objective with their support as they are already a success story,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nanyuki Youth and Community Outreach Babes are the winners of the boys and girls Laikipia Unity Cup which was played prior to the opening of the academy. Nanyuki beat Lolomarik 2-0 while Community edged out Gatero Girls School 1-0 to lift the coveted [e-mail]