By Reuben Olita
Sports Act is the ultimate solution to the growth of football in Western Region, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Vihiga County chairman Kelvin Mwangu has revealed.
Addressing the press on Saturday after the training of over 20 clubs from Busia County on adoption of FIFA connect system at Busia Polytechnic, Mr Mwangu appealed to counties from the region to have Sports Acts in place to save clubs from financial constraints facing them.
“Vihiga County is leading the way. Since 2022, when the Sports Act came into place, football teams participating in Division One and above have received funding from the county government; this has boosted the morale of teams in lower cadres to reach that level,” he said.
County Governments and County Assemblies should ensure the act was in place to help teams that are participating in various cadres of leagues.
“If you have Sports Act in place, you will have direction or regulations to follow. Teams will know when they reach certain levels they will receive financial support from the county government,” Mr Mwangu said, adding that the Act will also benefit other disciplines.
The Vihiga FKF boss said financial constraints had seen many teams fail to honour matches. ” That is why we try to advise donors to come and support our teams. If we have stability in finances, then running of football becomes easy.”
FKF Busia Branch chairman Hillary Musundi said the delay by the Department of Sports to have the Sports Act in place has made the running of Sports a nightmare with many clubs failing to honour their matches, owing to financial challenges.
Addressing clubs ahead of the county league season that is due to kick off on 21st October 2023, Mr Musundi said he will arrange a meeting with the county leadership to table clubs grievances on challenges facing them on matters finances.
“We need concerted efforts to have the Act in place within the shortest time possible to remove financial burden on clubs,” the chairman said, adding that Vihiga clubs are enjoying the benefits of having a Sports Act in place.
The chairman said they are aware of the financial woes facing clubs participating in the county league, noting that they have waived some fee to enable many clubs feature in the league.
Musundi said the FIFA connect digital system whose online registration closes on September 22 is good for clubs, noting that nobody will poach their players without negotiations.
Mwangu, the instructor said the FIFA connect training will enable clubs become compliant by registering their players electronically instead of the old manual system that was laborious and time wasting.
” The system is good and can track all the players if they are in FIFA connect. I am happy Busia clubs are willing to embrace the system owing to the huge turnout,” he said.
Mwangu said the system started in 2019 with registration of Kenya Premier League and National Superleague clubs. The federation in a circular this year (2023) mandated all clubs participating in the branch leagues to adopt the digital system with sub branches to follow suit in 2024.
