Shabana FC patron lauds Ruto for support towards community clubs
Shabana FC patron Sam Nyamweya has welcomed the move by President William Ruto to support three Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League clubs to develop into corporate entities.
President Ruto pledged to support Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, and Shabana, the three most popular community clubs in the country, after a meeting with Leopards officials including Chairman Dan Shikanda and patron Alex Muteshi at State House, Nairobi.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba was also present.
Leopards’ fans are celebrating the club’s 60th birthday this week, with a string of activities lined up including a fan fest and an international friendly match versus AE Ramassa in Nairobi.
And Nyamweya, who is considered among the front runners to win the FKF presidency in the October 2024 polls, stressed the importance of aiding the three clubs to transform into self-sustainable outfits.
He said: “I would like to congratulate the President for the directive to Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to develop a Cabinet Memorandum to give the clubs land at Kasarani for the development of their stadiums.”
“This declaration will contribute to the country’s infrastructure development, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. This investment will also improve the overall quality of sports facilities available in Kenya.”
Nyamweya also explained the importance of sports and football in employing the youth and consecutively spurring economic growth.
“It will also see great talent development. With better infrastructure, community clubs can attract more players and coaches, leading to improved performance and increased chances of discovering new talents. This will benefit both the clubs themselves and the national team Harambee Stars.”
Among the pledges the Head of State made to these three clubs include setting aside land for the development of a sports facility.
Gor Mahia, Leopards and Shabana have consistently been bogged by internal squabbles and financial challenges. The setbacks have in turn affected the team’s performances on the pitch and led them to lag behind their regional peers including Tanzania’s Simba and Yanga, Zambia’s Nkana FC, Uganda’s KCCA and Vipers in the fight for regional and continental honours.
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