Football stakeholders push for women inclusivity in talent scouting

The workshop aimed to overhaul the national talent identification system by focusing on modern scouting techniques and grassroots inclusivity.

Priority was placed on strengthening football at the local level as the essential foundation for the future success of Kenya's national teams.

County-level federation leaders highlighted the initiative as a strategic move to decentralize operations, reducing the workload of the national office while increasing transparency in the selection of young players.

Lamu FKF Chairman Sultwan Mohammed argued that consistent investment in local talent is the only way to achieve sustainable growth for the sport.

“Investment at the grassroots level is the only way to ensure we see lasting results for Kenyan football, as it creates a solid base for our national teams to thrive on the international stage,” stated Mohammed.

The sessions also addressed gender equality, with stakeholders calling for an increase in female representatives to specifically bolster the development of girls' football across the country.

Gerarder Akinyi, one of the participants in the training, emphasized the necessity of having more women involved in the decision-making and scouting processes.

“It is absolutely vital to increase the number of women in this process because we understand the unique challenges girls face, and our presence is key to ensuring the growth of the girls' game,” noted Akinyi.

A strong sense of optimism regarding the new roadmap prevailed among coaches from various talent development clubs along the coast.

Mombasa’s Sparki Youth Academy coach Abdinaser Kassim, explained that the training provided a much-needed strategic shift for local academies.

“This training has provided us with a completely new roadmap for developing talent, giving us the tools to handle modern coaching demands that we previously lacked,” said Kassim.

Waizata Boys coach Salim Juma added that the program introduced specific, professional identification criteria that were previously non-existent in their regions.

“This system has brought specific, professional identification standards that were missing in our counties, and we can now identify the right players using global benchmarks,” added Juma.

The workshop is expected to produce a new generation of professional scouts who will serve as the backbone for transforming Kenyan football from the ground up.