FOOTBALL WORLD CUP

A Glimmer in Kenya's Football.

by natscott on | 2023-08-18 16:19:40 Last Updated by natscott on2024-05-18 11:58:56

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August 18, 2023 marks a new dawn in Kenya’s football and sporting corridors in broad. Just how ready is Kenya for a seismic shift in Kenya's sporting narrative, as an electrifying spectacle unfolds? In a groundbreaking initiative, fussing soccer with grassroots empowerment, the inaugural Talanta Hela Inter-County Football tournament sprouts. ‘Talanta Hela’ is Swahili fusion for talent and money; depicting that ‘talent will earn you money’.

In his Maiden Jamuhuri day national holiday speech on December 12^th, President William Ruto sounded somewhat incoherent when he said that plans were at an advanced stage to launch a football tournament to be contested by the under 19 teams from all Kenya’s 47 counties. The appointment of Cabinet Secretary Mr. Ababu Namwamba seemed to be the boon in the Kenyan sports arena.  Indeed, you would be a lodger from the moon, if you didn’t behold the vibe that Mr. Ababu seems to be injecting in Kenyan sports with every passing day.

The inaugural Talanta Hela Inter-County Football tournament targets player from 19 years and under across the 47 counties. In the tournament, each county has formed a U19 county football team. The teams would then battle it out to emerge the ultimate County Champion.  Picture this; A 17 year old soccer enthusiast from the most remote County in Kenya, wearing his county's flag, steps on to the battle ground for his home county. This is a sight that has never before graced the nation's football history. The magnitude of this unprecedented event reverberates beyond the field, signaling a shift in paradigms and a departure from the conventional. True to the Cabinet Secretary’s words, the competition will be a game changer in Kenya’s sports landscape.

On Monday, 14^th August, the Cabinet Secretary was engaged in a meeting with County Sports and Youth Affairs executives. During the session, the county executives presented their county flags and unveiled the official home, away, and alternative kits for their teams.

The Kipkeino Stadium in Eldoret had the honors to host the maiden match, pitting Uasin Gishu County against Baringo County. President William Ruto officially launched the tournament during the commemoration of 10 years of devolved governance. During the launch, the president reiterated that his strategy of ‘bottom up’ approach to football is deliberate. In his words, President Ruto said, “We are targeting Harambee Stars playing at 2030 world cup and Kenya to host 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Together let’s build Kenya from our village, from the grassroots, to the grand stage in the world cup.”

This is a brainchild of the Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports; under the auspices of Hon. Ababu Namwamba. This monumental event stands as a testament to Kenya's commitment to nurturing talents while fostering economic avenues at the grassroots. The tournament's genesis lies in a visionary endeavor - to unearth, nurture, and elevate budding talents that flourish at the grassroots. With an unyielding focus on inclusivity, the Ministry's bid to create a platform for youth talents across Kenya’s 47 counties is nothing short of a revolution. Indeed, a revolution against decades of neglect, poor sports management and wanton disregard of sports as a socio-economic activity with a potential to hold the fabric of a nation intact.

Talanta Hela initiative is making big moves. The Inaugural Inter-county under-19 soccer tournament is a clarion call to awaken dreams, unify communities, and celebrate the nation's potential. From the heart of Kenya's soccer pitches, a new narrative emerges - one of inclusivity, empowerment, and unprecedented ambition. As the event unfurls, it beckons us to envision a future where soccer transcends the field, where it unites hearts, transforms livelihoods, and propels Kenya onto the global stage with a newfound vigor. Truly, the journey has just begun, and the nation stands poised at the precipice of greatness.

 BY: Salim Ramadhan