Nairobi’s Ligi Ndogo under 15 team, Soka Talent Under 13 team and Sakata Soccer Stars under 17 teams were feted as the winners of last season’s Elite Youth League were feted at an event held at Dandora Stadium in Nairobi, Wednesday, 21st August, 2024.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) NEC member and fkf youth committee chairman Chris Amimo praised the winners of the last season challenging the other teams to step up the challenge as the new season comes up.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Amimo said that the young players continue to exhibit great potential and with more investment on youth talent form all stakeholders, the children have opportunities that can be explored.
Amimo thanked FKF for supporting the youth by starting the Elite Youth Leagues noting that this is a step that will benefit young players develop their talent into blooming football careers.
“First I thank FKF for supporting this elite youth league initiative. It is a great stride in developing football among our children and I must say that this is the best thing that the federation can give to our children,” Amimo said.
“We have had a good day and the kids have enjoyed getting rewarded. It is a big motivation to them and I thank the federation for this,” he added.
Ligi Ndogo’s Mio Arkselson, from the Swedish school 12 years said that he hopes to have a better season and looks at winning the league next season.
Benjamin (Benji) Mbio, a 13-year-old winger from Makini school who turns up for Ligi Ndogo said that he expects tougher challenge getting to the next season. “I am happy with the organization of the league. The league is very competitive and I expect it to get tougher. In the next season, I am hoping that we can win in our category as our team mates have done in the under 15 categories,” Benji said.
Amimo said that the Elite youth league is part of FKF’s strategy to revive grassroots football countrywide to identify talents from an early stage and its culmination in rewarding the best performers is a hallmark in underscoring the importance of nurturing talent at the young age.
“A lot of young players do not have access to participation in organized leagues until they are adults. This will help our young players develop and it is also a gateway for them to be selected to the Kenya u15 and u17 teams in the future so I am happy with the progress,” Amimo added.