Homa Bay aims to win the Europe Day Kenya football tournament, which kicked off in the county on Saturday.
Governor Gladys Wanga has urged the teams, comprising secondary school students from the county, to concentrate on becoming champions in the tournament finals.
She expressed confidence in the talented youth of Homa Bay, predicting that they will perform admirably and emerge victorious.
“Homa Bay is among the counties in Kenyan with good and talented players. The confidence we have is based on the records the county has had in past games,” Wanga added.
Europe Day Kenya Football tournament is a competition meant to showcase and celebrate youth talent in Kenya in line with celebrations of Europe Day.
Other counties playing the game are Marsabit, Kilifi and Nairobi.
Teams were chosen through an implementing partner, Acakoro Sports Academy, collaborating with the Kenya Secondary Schools Association.
They selected the best teams from each participating county, resulting in eight boys' and eight girls' teams, with 11 players each, from every participating county.
In total, 64 teams are anticipated to compete. Each game at the county level lasts for 25 minutes, while the final matches will be played for 40 minutes.
Homa Bay commenced its games on Saturday, with the finals scheduled for Sunday.
Participating teams in Homa Bay are Agoro Mixed, Ratang’a, Waware, Ogande Girls, Kobala, Sindo Girls, Asumbi and Atela in the female category.
The boys’ teams are Kuoyo Kochia, Oriwo, Agoro Sare, Nyamanga, Mbita, Homa Bay Boys, Tonga and Ringa.
Finals will be held on May 17 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, Nairobi.
Governor Wanga who hosted Deputy European Union Ambassador Ondrej Simek at Raila Odinga Stadium said Homa Bay has played similar games in the past and her county won most of the games.
Homa Bay County men's football team won the game.
“Let Homa Bay teams concentrate and get crowned champions. We did it in the inaugural Talanta Hela held in Nairobi,” Wanga said.
Wanga mentioned that the county boasts some of the country's finest football players, and the current games will serve as platforms for nurturing talents.
The governor highlighted that Homa Bay is leveraging sports to empower its youth.
“Sports should not only be for entertainment but it should also enable players to put food on the table,” she said.
European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger together with Wanga is expected to officiate over the closing ceremony of the tournament this Sunday.
