Three years ago, football was not popular in Kwale county and many young people had been affected by the menace of drugs and substance abuse.
Some were even also caught up in insecurity incidents.
But in 2020 at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup League was introduced. The league has revived hope for thousands of the youth.
The initiative was started by journalist Rashid Abdallah as one way of giving back to the community.
Rashid Abdallah Super Cup League's communication officer Kaka Zema said a great transformation has been achieved.
He said the main objective of the league was to enhance resilience, nurture talent, get the youth out of the streets, and empower them financially.
Zema said the initiative has helped reform many youth, who have found their purpose through football and are working hard to be successful
"As you are aware, the insecurity cases were very rampant, especially in Waa location but now there is a huge difference," he said.
He said some of them have been scouted and get an opportunity to join big teams and play in the FKF.
Zema said the county football has also been rejuvenated, adding that before the league was introduced, many youths were only playing football for fun but now have realised it's a profession and are striving to make it in life.
He said new strong teams have emerged and supporters from across the country are trooping in.
"At first, Kwale football teams were less known but surprisingly people from Eldoret, Nairobi, and Kisumu, among others areas, now travel to Kwale for matches," he said.
Rashid Abdallah Super Cup organising secretary George Ojwaya said the league has made people realise their potential and the importance of soccer.
He said the league has turned out to be a source of motivation because of awards and money given to the teams and best players each season.
Currently, the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup is in its fourth edition. It commenced in August and is expected to end in December with the prize money set at Sh1.5 million.
Ojwaya said the league has given rise to qualified coaches and referees.
The first edition had prize money of Sh40,000, the second 100,000 and the third had Sh500,000 and one million for the winner and first runners-up for main and open categories.
Denmark FC, a local team at Waa in Matuga subcounty, has won the league twice.
He said the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup in partnership with several stakeholders made sure local coaches were trained and awarded various diploma coaching certificates.
Ojwaya said it is something that Kwale never had before and used to seek qualified referees from outside the county.
He said at the moment, there is a high competition, and everyone is trying to better their football skills to be victorious.
"We have challenged the youth to take the opportunity, and this makes them very active," he said.
Ojwaya said the general health of the youth has improved because most of them have quit drugs and are recovering through physical exercise.
He said since drugs are highly discouraged, youth are now fighting to be clean to qualify for the football leagues.
Denmark FC team manager Mohammed Mwinyi Mshindo hailed the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup for changing lives.
He said it is currently the county's biggest league and has created many opportunities for youth.
Mshindo said the league has helped expose hidden talents and restore the county's lost glory in football.
He said women have also developed a passion for soccer because they have seen how great the game is through the Rashid Abdallah Super Cup.
Denmark FC Captain Khalifa Shaban said many young people want to join the team so that they can participate in the league.
He said, currently, the team has over 50 players both seniors and juniors and more are coming.
The highest age is 40 and the lowest is nine years.
Shaban said discipline levels have risen within Waa and the entire county.
He said before it was hard to bring youth together to train football on empty stomachs.
Shaban said the young people are focused more on their future than the past, so they have become patient and determined.
