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The Nairobian

Fifa promises to help Kenya's football get back on its feet

Football

By Dennis Okeyo | Jan 10, 2023

Harambee Stars defender Eugine Asike in a past Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier. [File]

There's a light at the end of the tunnel, when thinking about Kenya's football.

This is after world football governing body Fifa promised to help Kenya build its football plans and targets after a torrid nine months ban that was lifted in December.

According to a visiting Fifa and Caf delegation, they are in the country for meetings with the Kenyan government and Football Kenya Federation.

The team is led by Gelson Fernandes, Director Member Associations Africa, Nodar Akhalkatsi, Director Strategic Projects and Governance, Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programs, Alessandro Gramalgia Strategic Development Manager and Sarah Solemale, Senior Governance Manager.

Also in the delegation is Naddim Magdy, a legal counsel at Caf.

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Speaking to the media and after meeting with Cabinet Secretary Youth Affairs Sports, and Arts, Ababu Namwamba, Fernandes, who is a former Swiss footballer, said Fifa's main aim is to help the country move forward after months of missing in action.

"We are here to meet all the stakeholders in the next three days. Kenya has a great potential. I had the opportunity of playing against MacDonald Mariga and later with his brother Victor Wanyama. This shows that Kenya can produce world class footballers," said Fernandes.

"We want to listen and find out where youth, league, and women football stands. We are also transparent with governance. We want things to be run properly and football to be back and have a good image. Every year, we have to audit federations worldwide and that process is very clear. We want to help the federation to plan and achieve its target."

Ababu said the government will remain an enabler of sports and will not interfere with running of football, but said the federation must conform to the legal framework of the country in its activities.

"The government wants robust football development in the country, we made it clear to Fifa and Caf that Kenya is at rock bottom, but we want to go up. We have agreed on certain targets to help Kenya to go up such as youth football, going back to basics, the aim is to grow football from grassroots, as well as to consolidate football in primary and secondary schools," said Ababu.

"We also discussed FKF's situation. We have assured the delegation that the government is not interested in managing football, but we are only interested in enabling a good environment for football to prosper." [Dennis Okeyo]