The County Government of Mombasa is scaling up efforts to upgrade sports infrastructure in a bid to nurture young talent and steer youth away from crime, drug and substance abuse.
The shortage of adequate sports grounds has been cited as a key driver of rising social vices among idle youth. The National Police Service recently warned that young people engaging in criminal activities would face the full force of the law, following a resurgence of juvenile gangs in parts of Mombasa and Kilifi that have terrorised residents.
To address the gap in sports facilities, the newly sworn-in County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Public Service Administration, Youth, Gender, Sports and Social Services, Jonathan Wepukhulu, said the county is engaging institutions such as the Kenya Ports Authority to support the renovation of school playgrounds.
“We want the playgrounds to be used by both schools and the community. We will collaborate with FKF to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) so that the community benefits once the playgrounds receive a facelift,” said Wepukhulu during a meeting with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) county officials.
He added that the county government will cater to
club affiliation and registration fees for teams and has put in place measures to facilitate transport for clubs to honour away fixtures.
The CECM reaffirmed the county’s commitment to ensuring youth remain active in sports instead of falling into crime.
“Mombasa youth will not be killed, as has been alleged. They will be on the playing fields nurturing their football talents. We will ensure they are scouted both nationally and internationally,” he said.
Wepukhulu noted that the county has comprehensive plans to develop sports as a source of livelihood for young people. He also appealed to the contractor of the Mombasa County Stadium to prioritise the employment of local youth when construction resumes next week.
The National Government has allocated Sh1 billion for the construction of the 15,000-seater stadium, ending a 15-year hiatus after the project stalled due to financial constraints and was abandoned by the contractor.
The funding forms part of a broader government plan to fast-track completion of the facility, which is expected to serve as an alternative venue for matches during next year’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The county government also plans to build Ziwani and Bububu mini-stadiums to FIFA standards, creating additional employment opportunities for youth during construction.
“We want more stadiums in Mombasa. When we host matches at the main Mombasa Stadium, teams will use the other stadiums for preparations,” he said, assuring stakeholders that the stadium will be completed within a year.
FKF Mombasa Chairman Alamin Abdalla welcomed the interventions by both the national and county governments to improve sports infrastructure and praised the CECM for engaging stakeholders.
“One of FIFA’s key requirements is the availability of proper playing fields. Our governor has taken the necessary steps to ensure we have adequate sports facilities. He has also briefed us on MOUs with schools to upgrade playgrounds,” said Abdalla.
“There will be more playing grounds. Children naturally love football. Many children listen more to their coaches than to their parents. With proper playgrounds, our children will stay engaged in sports,” he added.
By Sadik Hassan
