FKT AND SCEA RELATIONS ON YOUTH SOCCER

           With SCEA MEMBERS

 The President Football federation of Kenya (FKF) Nick Mwenda launched in Kisii, Kenya, competitions pertaining under 13 and 15 and this was the first time to be seen inside the region.

During, the launch, Sports club of East Africa (SCEA), upcoming and energizing, was at the arena of its start, inotherwards, it was at the grass root of Inspiring African Youths on improving soccer around the region.

Mr. Kenneth Wandera a coach at SCEA, told the DAR-times blog editorial based in Dar es Salaam, that if youths are to join hands in improving the game, then East Africa will be at a verge of increasing talents for the future.

     Young players’ skills development in relation to age VS a competitive philosophy of winning at all costs, which one will hold precedence?. 

The most important issue for the under 13 and 15’s league is to focus on making youngsters acquire the required soccer skills at tender ages? Winning at all costs is counterproductive for players younger than 12 years. A technically more gifted player of let’s say 11 or 12 years can compete favorably in the under 13 league if an AGE APPROPRIATE PHILOSOPHY is adapted and followed to the core.

A national developmental league run under the FKF is expected to regulate the league well and focus on youngsters’ skill development under AGE APPROPRIATE COMPETTION.

The developmental league can hopefully result into the creation of national centers of soccer excellence. Through the monitored and vigilant transitions from under 13- 15-17 to under 19, youngsters can be sieved through to tap the most talented to represent Harambee Stars.

Creating centers of excellence however, shall not be made possible by the recently launched under 13 and 15’s league but through FKF monitoring and fostering operations at respective developmental soccer clubs. This could possibly be achieved by reminding all clubs to have full time coaches and administrators running club specific youth soccer development programs/ curricular focusing on the most talented youngsters. Continuously monitoring club and players’ progress will produce tangible results.

     The developmental league will avail a closely scrutinized and monitored platform for youngsters to exhibit their talents. At this level, the most talented players will be visible to all and could attract several leads for future prospects. This drives players to work more on their game. With such a pathway of national level magnitude through branches, there is no guarantee but hypothetically the country can tap the best players to represent its youth football at a professional level and the senior side.

     In addition to acting as a motivator to respective club’s youngsters playing in the under 6 to under 12, the youth league is being used as transition to full professional football (Harambee Stars) in view of Qatar 2022 qualification, develop technical soccer skills excellence ). Nick and comrades- that’s the right way to go. May be now is the time to think about the league’s marketing, promotion and substantive benefit for the kids.