REDEMPTION MOMENT: Kisumu Day hoping to atone for their loss in last year’s Airtel Rising Stars football final

KAKAMEGA HIGH Vs KISUMU DAY-FOOTBALL
Piston Vinyoli (left) of Kakamega High controls the ball past Douglas Nyabuto of Kisumu Day during their final match at Bukhungu Stadium. 10/08/14. PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD

Kisumu Day High School will be hoping to redeem themselves this year after losing to Kakamega High School in last year's national final of the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) football tournament.

The fifth edition of the ARS football initiative, which will be launched in Nairobi today, comes a week after the mobile telephone company appointed Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure as its continental sports brand ambassador

The football initiative, which will run for two months before culminating in national finals in Machakos on August 8, focuses on identifying and nurturing budding football talent from the grassroots. 

Defending champions Kakamega High School are preparing to face stiff competition from the likes of former champions Upper Hill, Ofafa Jericho, Kamukunji and Kathungi high schools.

But first, the Western region-based teams will need to get past high ranked sides in the Nzoia region (formerly Western Province) such as St Anthony, Musingu Boys and Chavakali High School.

In the girls' category, Butere, who narrowly beat St John's Kaloleni in last year's finals, will not have an easy ride in the regional championships as they have to beat the likes of Lugulu and Mukumu Girls before meeting their bitter rivals St John's Kaloleni, former national champions Olympic Secondary and Tartar High School.

The ARS, an initiative of Airtel across Africa, has a wide programme that provides a platform for upcoming football talent under the age of 17 years to showcase their skills. In Kenya, the initiative targets boys and girls in secondary schools across the country.

"It is yet another year for Airtel to give hundreds of young boys and girls a unique opportunity to nurture their talent in sports through Airtel Rising Stars. We are confident that the programme will continue to provide a platform for scouts, coaches, football authorities and other partners to tap into a vast pool of upcoming talent," said Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi.

"The tournament has produced talented players such as Michael Olunga of Kenyan Premier League leaders Gor Mahia. We are confident that it will continue to produce talented players who will help move the game to the next level," he added.

Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Chairman David Ngugi said, "Airtel's sponsorship of this tournament underscores the company's commitment to creating excitement for sports lovers as well as providing empowerment opportunities for Kenyan youths."