The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Elgeyo Marakwet branch will on December 27 hold a major football tournament for under 13 and under-15 boys and girls as part of its efforts to nurture young talent across the county.
According to branch vice chair Dominic Otieno, the initiative is aimed at identifying promising players at an early age and guiding them into structured football development pathways.
Otieno said scouts from Nairobi have been invited to attend the tournament, where they will assess players and help form strong teams that will eventually represent Elgeyo Marakwet County in regional and national competitions.
He noted that although the county is widely known for its athletics success, it also has immense football potential that remains largely untapped due to limited exposure and support for the sport.
By targeting children, the FKF branch hopes to grow interest in football at the grassroots level while building a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.
The vice chair revealed that two players from the county have already earned opportunities with top clubs, with one featuring for Shabana FC while another has joined AFC Leopards.
However, he expressed concern that local teams that nurtured the players did not benefit from their progression because formal contracts were not signed with the bigger clubs.
Under the programme dubbed “Beyond the Pitch,” Otieno said the branch plans to register all 22 teams in the county on FIFA Connect, a system that will track players and ensure clubs are financially rewarded for developing talent.
He added that plans are underway to expose local teams through friendly matches against established clubs such as Gor Mahia in April next year to improve competitiveness and experience.
Otieno said the long-term goal is to see players competing internationally by the age of 17 but emphasized the need for support from the county sports department and partners to meet costs associated with training and competition.
The vice-chair appealed for support from the county sports department and other partners to help realize their ambitions, noting that many of the children lack the financial resources required to participate in competitive matches.
He noted that football can create employment opportunities for youth while keeping them engaged positively away from crime and making investment in the sport beneficial to the wider community.
By Alice Wanjiru
