Top Murang'a football players feted in FKF gala

Top football players from Murang’a County have been feted in a first-of-its-kind gala organised by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).

The event, held at Technology Primary School in Murang'a Town, saw hundreds of players treated to an evening of entertainment and granted an opportunity to interact. 

Brian Miruka from the Nguthuru All-Stars team was feted the Most Valuable Player and also won the Golden Boot trophy.

Golden Youth’s Moses Nduati was crowned the best defender while Amica FC’s Patrick Kinyanjui won the best midfielder.

Fredrick Ng’ang’a, Amica FC’s manager was feted as the best in the county while the team of the year trophy went to Nguthuru All Stars and Gathaini Rangers were voted the best new team.

Patrick Kiguthi won the Golden Glove Award, with Beline Rose from Murang’a Sparks Queens' being voted the MVP in the women's league.

The awards were organised following the conclusion of the 2023-2024 county league that saw about 40 men and women teams participate.

The players said the event was an indication that the football was on an upward trajectory. adding they now feel motivated.

Ng’ang’a said it was the first county league that his team has participated in, and expressed joy for bagging two awards.

“This is very encouraging for us as youths to engage in sports and do our best,” he said.

Silver Fedha from Murang’a Sparks Queens team, said they founded the team as a group of friends seeking a fat-burning hobby and got hooked.

“I urge ladies from Murang’a and investors to join our team. We have a lot to offer,” she said, adding football is a good alternative to lots of other pastimes.

Murathi Magochi, a fan, said the gala had made the players feel appreciated and urged local political leadership to consider supporting such events in future.

Magochi appealed to Murang’a residents to support their local teams saying it’s fulfilling to see local youths flourish.

“It's costly to be a fan because sometimes we have to travel to other areas when the team is playing away but it's very fulfilling.  Come out and support your local team financially and even morally." 

FKF branch chairperson Robert Macharia said the gala is the first of the many the branch will organise to celebrate local players.

He, however, appealed to the government to take sports more seriously, adding sportsmen are some of the top earners globally.

“For the longest time, sports have been at the periphery of government’s focus and discussions. Sports need to leave that bottom of the table place that successive governments have put it and be elevated to higher levels in policies," he noted. 

Macharia, who is also the president of Murang’a Seals team, called on both county and national governments to upgrade sports facilities to provide a conducive environment for youths to play.

He said in Murang’a, football players are forced to use primary schools’ grounds that are substandard to practice.

“In other countries, the team attached to a city plays in the stadium owned by that city. We don’t have such facilities and it's time the government started speaking to stakeholders. Some of us are willing to give advice for free to help put the right infrastructure in place."

“The number of people coming from other counties to Murang’a for leagues because we have the SportPesa arena is so huge. Governments should take advantage of this opportunity to raise revenues”.

Murang’a Seals Vice President Hussein Mohamed on his part lauded the FKF team for organising the event and urged other branches to do the same to motivate players.

He reiterated the need for the government to invest in growing sports at  the grassroots and appealed to corporate organisations and county governments to come on board and support such initiatives.

“Counties should ensure there is requisite investment in infrastructure without which we may be unable to commercialise football as is happening in other parts of the world”.