Kimanzi tips youngsters on ways to grow their talents

Coach Wazito FC Francis Kimanzi follow in FKF Premier League match against Tusker FC at Utalii Sports Club on Friday, May 21, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

From the effort of experienced coaches to revive the dwindling fortunes of Nakuru County in the multi-billion football industry, it has started to yield results at the grassroots.

Their (experienced coaches) presence in different grassroots tournaments across the county has inspired young players who have started to take to take part in the weekends’ Inter-Estates and Inter-Wards Championships in different sub-counties in the county.

The youngsters and their coaches are trying to catch the attention of hawk-eyed coaches who are in the process to identify talented youngsters who should be selected into the footballing schools in and outside the county, thanks to the efforts of veteran coach Bob Oyugi of Education in Sports Academy.

While operating under the auspices of Education in Sports Academy, former Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi said Nakuru has enormous talents that need to be exploited and exhausted with the support of Nakuru County Government which has an annual allocation of sports budget from the ward, constituency and county level that should be used to scout and develop these talents.

“After deep analysis of these youngsters, we need to have special schools to act as ‘Centres’ of Excellence’ after identification of talented players in order to assemble at one centre to make it easier the teaching of skills and football techniques,” Kimanzi told Standard Sports at Mukeu Primary School in Ndundori, over the weekend during their scouting mission in Bahati Constituency.

As an experienced youth coach who was ready to offer his services to the local schools in Bahati Constituency, Kimanzi called on the local administration to level the playing surface of Mekeu Primary School to make their work easier and to prevent the youngsters from unnecessary injuries during training sessions.

Meanwhile, the finals of the Mrembo na Kazi football bonanza will be held this weekend at five different venues in Bahati Sub-County.

A total of ten teams will square it out in the finals to decide on the winners who’ll win the top cash prizes before the tournament proceeds to the Constituency level next weekend.