The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Team Blue presidential candidate Doris Petra made a major stride towards victory in the upcoming FKF national elections.
This comes after 53 delegates on Saturday endorsed her joint ticket with running mate Nick Mwendwa during a retreat in Naivasha.
Four delegates who are staunch supporters of Team Blue sent their apologies as they were unable to travel to Naivasha for the retreat, owing to other commitments but confirmed their unwavering support for the Petra-Mwendwa camp.
With the latest tally, Petra and Mwendwa have exuded confidence ahead of the eagerly-awaited December 7 polls, saying they hope to garner more numbers to their camp, with several other delegates still un-affiliated.
Petra and Mwendwa used the forum to pitch their agenda to the delegates, reiterating their desire to steer Kenyan football to new heights once they are handed the mandate to lead for the next four years.
Team Blue recorded an emphatic win at the county level elections which were successfully held across the country after securing 32 out of 48 branches.
Moreover, 25 clubs have declared support for the Petra-Mwendwa ticket, saying they have immense faith in the duo.
Petra thanked the delegates for their unequivocal support pledging to serve football's best interests.
She said she has the experience, ability and willingness to help Kenyan football attain the desired standards once she secures the seat during the elections that will be held at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
"I'm indeed very humbled by this endorsement. I want to thank you for showing support to the course. Having been in active football, I know the agenda that we are clear about and as a loyal deputy, I have been supportive to Nick so I know that we shall continue to develop football," Petra said.
"I'm glad that results are all there to show in the growth of women and youth football and I promise with this endorsement and show of confidence in the leadership of Team Blue, we shall take football forward together," she added.
The Petra- Mwendwa axis has anchored their agenda on women football, youth development and capacity building for coaches, retired players, teachers and even referees.
The eight-year Mwendwa rein was characterised by major milestones which saw more than 8,000 coaches attain different levels of CAF coaching licenses.
This placed Kenya among the few countries that provide CAF coaching instructors who are deployed by the continental body to train coaches in other countries.
Further, youth and women football have experienced a steady rise which culminated in Kenya historical appearance at the FIFA Under 17 women World Cup in the Dominican Republic last month.
Moreover, the men’s national Under 20 team also punched a maiden ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations Under 20 set for next year.
To underscore the development made under the watch of Mwendwa and Petra in women football, CAF has nominated the national women under 17 team Junior Starlets, team coach Mildred Cheche and standout player Valerie Nekesa for awards in the upcoming CAF 2024 awards in the women’s category.
Kenyan Premier League side Shabana FC chairman Jared Nevaton said his club supports Team Blue owing to the duo's proven track record.
He said the Kishke-based side clinched the National Super League and earned promotion due to the support that FKF accorded clubs.
“I'm proudly supporting team blue because, having been in football for long enough, I have seen the ability of Doris Petra and under the leadership of Nick Mwendwa and Petra, NSL and the Premier league have evolved into proper professional leagues. Both Doris and Nick have a proven track record."
FKF Nakuru county branch chairman Francis Oliele and his Homa Bay counterpart Maurice Ogweno supported the candidature of Team Blue at the county level and pledged support for Petra at the top level to ensure that development is constant at both the county and national levels.
“I was elected by the Nakuru football stakeholders to drive the development of football in our county. My vision is in line with the vision that team blue shares and therefore, I'm ready to vote blue on election day to make sure that we are together in propelling football both at county and national levels.
"My support for Team Blue is unconditional. It is purely based on the agenda that the team shares to grow football in the country as well as the proven track record which the team has done over the last eight years,” Oliele said.
Team Blue has projected to win more undecided delegates and drive the numbers to more than 60 with the typical strategy employed over the years.
Homa Bay chairman Maurice Ogweno said: "We have a federation leadership that has shown they know the direction we need to go as a country. We are going to support Doris and Nick so that we can continue with development which has been ongoing in Kenya. We are team blue to stay."
Other candidates hardly managed to attract beyond 20 delegates during their meetings.
Reports indicated that several candidates have been trying to lure Team Blue cndidates to their side but with no success as Petra and Mwendwa engage a strategy to keep a close-knit circle of supporters who believe in the course.
