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Njomo is optimistic that talent from Kiambu will be spotted by scouts who have been attending the football matches.
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The NG-CDF office promotes talent in all fields of sports, including football, netball, basketball, swimming, dart, dancing, singing, karate and volleyball.
Kiambu MP Jude Njomo says untapped sports talent at the grassroots should be exploited to empower young people.
He said football, for example, can employ many youths and provide them with livelihoods. The lawmaker said the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) pays the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) affiliation fees for all teams in the constituency to promote professionalism, which would be gainful to players.
Njomo spoke on Sunday in Tinganga during the finals of the Kiambu Township Football League.
"The NG-CDF each year pays FKF affiliation fee for all football teams in the constituency and that is why we have been able to conduct a successful league, which started in February this year. We have also paid up for the training of referees and provided football uniforms for both players and referees," he said.
The legislator said the NG-CDF has rehabilitated football fields.
"We are happy that we are engaging our youths positively through sports. Though most of the playing fields are owned by schools, we have collaborated well and players and fans have maintained decorum not to interfere with the schools; they only use the grounds and leave."
Njomo is optimistic that talent from Kiambu will be spotted by scouts who have been attending the football matches.
The NG-CDF office promotes talent in all fields of sports, including football, netball, basketball, swimming, dart, dancing, singing, karate and volleyball.
"This year we could only promote footballers because of Covid-19 hazards. We could not bring all talented sportsmen and sportswomen together for competition. We have been promoting sports every year and boosting the morale of players,” Njomo said.
Njomo said the initiative has helped many youths as focussing on sporting activities enables them to stay away from crime and drugs and alcohol abuse.
“For the competition to be a success, those involved need to work out and they are motivated by their fans—which means there is no time to be involved in some anti-social behaviours.”
Superoot Kiamumbi won the league. The winning team from each of the four wards of Ndumberi, Riabai, Township and Ting'ang'a was awarded a trophy and cash. Other teams were given two footballs and uniforms.
Participants said the move to have the competition at the grassroots had helped them to grow and nurture their talent. They appealed to the national and county governments to come on board and sponsor sports as a way of putting youths on the map to stardom.