This weekend, youth football took center stage as the FKF Youth League Finals unfolded across multiple centers. Over 786 teams from six counties—Turkana, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Nairobi—came together to compete, celebrate, and showcase the best of Kenya’s emerging football talent.
The FKF Youth League, established to nurture and identify football talent, has proven to be a crucial stepping stone for young players. It provides an avenue for them to display their talent to scouts and coaches.
The league also attracted the attention of national team coaches, including coach Mildred Cheche, who got the opportunity to scout players for the upcoming U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. This initiative underscores the league’s role in shaping the future of Kenyan football.
The finals were not just about players only; young referees also benefited from a mentorship program. In Nakuru, budding referees received training and guidance from seasoned professionals. They were given the opportunity to officiate matches, gaining invaluable experience to build their potential officiating careers.
One of the highlights of the finals was the inspiring involvement of Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia) and Tyson Otieno (Kenya Police FC). These brothers, who started their journey at Rodney Strikers, returned to mentor and coach the next generation of players.
Their efforts bore fruit as the Rodney Strikers’ U13 and U17 teams reached the FKF Youth League Championship Finals, with the U17 team emerging as champions. The finals showcased thrilling matches and impressive performances across all centers.
In Nairobi, Vision Starlets emerged victorious in the U13 girls’ category after a nail-biting penalty shootout against Acafoa. Makongeni Elite triumphed in the U13 boys’ category, defeating SJF by two goals to nil.
Meanwhile, Kariobangi Sharks Academy claimed the U15 girls’ title after overcoming Kayole Starlets in a penalty shootout as Posta Youth edged Rodney Strikers with a narrow 1-0 win in the U15 boys’ final. Mwili Community clinched the U17 girls’ title after a tense penalty shootout against Korogocho Starlets, while Rodney Strikers dominated Bright Future with a 2-0 victory to win the U17 boys’ championship.