FKF to align grassroots football reforms with FIFA global study findings

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is set to realign its grassroots and amateur football development structures following findings from a FIFA-led global assessment aimed at strengthening the foundation of the game worldwide.

The Amateur Football Environmental Analysis (AFEA), conducted between 2020 and 2024, examined how member associations structure, manage and grow grassroots and amateur football, with Kenya included among 185 countries assessed in the study.

The report focused on participation levels, development pathways, governance structures, and existing gaps affecting the growth of the game at community level.

FIFA Regional Technical Officer for the South Africa region, Ali Mwebe, said the study was necessary due to the dominance of grassroots football within the global football ecosystem.

"Grassroots and amateur football constitute over 90% of football in the ecosystem of the members of FIFA. That's the reason why FIFA is conducting this study on how you handle grassroots and amateur football."

He added that the exercise is aimed at supporting member associations through tailored interventions designed to close identified gaps and improve participation.

FIFA Regional Technical Consultant Daniela Bulgaru highlighted the scale and inclusivity of the global research process.

"Football is the number one sport in the world where we have 75 million registered players and 375 million players playing, but they are not registered with the member association or regional association."

She noted that despite football's massive global reach, many countries continue to face challenges including limited infrastructure and weak structures that affect grassroots development.

At the national level, FKF Football Development Director Francis Kimanzi said the findings provide a critical benchmark for improvement and future planning.

"It is key because it highlights where we were, and it also gives us some indicators of what we want to achieve to do and how we can get to the next level of our football."

FKF is expected to work closely with FIFA in the next phase of the programme, which will focus on implementing tailor-made solutions aimed at strengthening grassroots systems, expanding participation, and improving the overall football development pathway across the country.