Acakoro sets pace with East Africa’s first residential academy in Homa Bay

The Acakoro Football Academy, which officially opened its new residential base in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, last month, is the first residential football academy in Kenya and East Africa.

On Tuesday, Acakoro General Manager Luke Scott expressed his joy at the overwhelming turnout of over 2,000 community members who came for registration on opening day.

He said the new base represents more than just a sports facility; it’s a center for nurturing young football talent and supporting education.

“We are not just a football academy; we also have a registered school,” Scott stated, emphasizing that Acakoro aims to produce skilled players and well-educated individuals. "Football and academics go hand in hand,” he added.

The academy currently houses players in classes 4, 5, and 6, some of whom participated in European tournaments last year. Their long-term vision is to host players across East Africa, with structured programs for different age categories.

Scott noted that preparing players for global opportunities is part of Acakoro's philosophy, rather than domestic leagues.

“We don’t want to produce players for the domestic league. We want to prepare them for top leagues like the Premier League and Bundesliga,” he said.

Despite initial skepticism, the Ndhiwa community is gradually accepting the academy. Some of the academy’s staff members are locals, fostering a stronger community connection.

Scott added that the academy maintains close ties with the FKF, the Ministry of Sports, and the Ministry of Education, and plans are underway for exchange programs and alumni engagement initiatives to enhance international exposure of the young athletes.