Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Ababu Namwamba on Monday, April 1 arrived in Spain in readiness to formalize a soccer talent partnership between the two nations.
The inked deal will be between Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) and the Nastic Soccer Academy (NSA) of Tarragona, Spain.
“Arrived in Barcelona, Spain this afternoon to formalize the partnership between the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) and the Nastic Soccer Academy (NSA) of Tarragona,” read a post shared by CS Sports Ababu Namwamba.
This partnership, announced by CS Sports Ababu Namwamba, is aimed at identifying, nurturing, and monetizing talents within a structured framework.
Further, Namwamba pointed out that NSA, had already integrated a number of top Kenyan youth talents, including Amos Wanjala, Aldrine Kibet, Alvin Kasavuli, Ezekiel Nguya and Ismail Odhiambo Alal into their ranks.
He noted that the collaboration extends beyond player integration as it encompasses elite training opportunities for the Talanta Hela national U19 boys and girl’s teams.
Notably, the Talanta Hela initiative, an integral part of the partnership, will serve as a pipeline for talent identification and development.
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Namwamba – Initiative Transcends Kenyan Borders
Originating from the inaugural Talanta Hela Inter-County Football Tournament in 2023, which crowned Homabay County for boys and Busia County for girls as champions, the initiative has now transcended borders.
The Sports CS further indicate that by participating in the esteemed Costa Daurada Cup in Tarragona, the teams had showcased their prowess on an international stage, with the boys claiming the championship title while the girls secured a commendable second place.
“This collaboration doesn’t merely focus on honing soccer skills; it aims to transform talents into tangible opportunities for sustainable livelihoods,” said Ababu Namwamba.
With an eye on the future, CS Ababu Namwamba said he envisions a sports economy that empowers youngsters from all corners of Kenya, from Loitoktok to Lokitaung, Lamu to Lambwe.
“As we do this, we give a chance to talented youngsters from every corner of Kenya, from Loitoktok to Lokitaung, Lamu to Lambwe, to horn their skills in diverse Sporting disciplines and creatives, ultimately turning their talents into “Pesa Mfukoni” for sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
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Through diversified sporting disciplines and creative outlets, these talents are not only supporting themselves but also uplifting their families, communities, and contributing significantly to national development.
Looking ahead, Ababu underscored that the partnership between KAS and NSA sets the stage for Kenya’s participation in international tournaments such as the upcoming AFCON’27.
Co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, this prestigious event is expected to be a platform for showcasing the collective prowess of East African soccer talents.
