The roar of the crowd, the thrill of the game, the passion that burns in every player's heart—these are the elements that make Kenyan football so captivating. And now, with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's vow to support its growth, a new era of hope dawns on the horizon for Kenyan football.
Speaking while hosting Nairobi-based football clubs at his Riverside office on Monday, Sakaja painted a vision of a city where football isn't just a sport, it's a way of life, a source of pride, a symbol of unity.
"I envision a capital city where every street corner echoes with the sound of a bouncing ball, where every estate playing field transforms into a mini-stadium, where every child dreams of donning the national jersey and representing their nation on the world stage," Sakaja remarked.
He made the remarks while presenting uniforms to teams that had qualified to feature in the sub-county group stage of the Sakaja Super Cup.
He said his promise resonates with the spirit of every Kenyan who has ever dreamt of a national team that stands tall on the international stage.
"It's a promise that echoes the yearning for a future where Kenyan football is not just a local pastime but a global force to be reckoned with," he said.
Sakaja also said his government is working on improving and building sports infrastructure in the city.
"We will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to ensure that teams both in the tournament and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) league gain access to venues in learning institutions," he noted.
"We are already working in Woodly Sports Ground, Ziwani and Kihumbuini and will soon move to Camp Toyoyo in ensuring that Nairobi has adequate sports facilities," he added.
The Johnson Sakaja Foundation, the event's sponsors, provided playing uniforms to each of the 136 teams that advanced to the group stage.
The winners of the group stage, which will be played at the sub-county level, will each receive Sh100,000, while the best player, goalkeeper, top scorer, most promising player, and fan base will also receive cash prizes.
The Johnson Sakaja Foundation, the event's sponsors, provided playing uniforms to each of the 136 teams that advanced to the group stage on Monday.
The best player, goalie, top scorer, most promising player, and fan base will also receive cash awards, and the winners of the group stage, which will be played at the Sub County level, will each receive Sh00,000.
Speaking at the Monday event, the Johnson Sakaja Foundation Chairman David Njoroge said they intend to expand the tournament to include different age categories.
"From next year they will intronoduce a category for the youth in the tournament, adding that they are satisfied with the tournament's progress," observed Njoroge.
