Counties have been urged to focus on nurturing women through establishing sports academies for their empowerment.
Speaking at Kinoru stadium in Meru, former Harambee Stars Coach Jacob Ghost Mulei said counties have potential talents in sports at the grassroot level but all these talents are not nurtured at an early age.
He said in most of the tournaments, few girls' teams are involved in the sporting activities especially football.
"There is need for the counties to come up with sports academies and not only the academies but also focus on involving qualified coaches in these academies,” Mulei said.
He spoke during the launch of Betika football tournament for both men and ladies.
Betika Managing Director Mutuma Mutava said the tournament was a way of giving back to the community.
Winning teams will each take home Sh1 million in prize money, first runners-up Sh500,000 while second runners-up will pocket Sh250,000.
"Other teams which will have participated will walk away with goodies such as sports gears to motivate them for participating,” Mutuma said.
Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna who hails from Meru and his teammate David Cheche Ochieng called on youths blessed with talents to venture into football and work hard as sports is among the most paying careers in the world.
“I appreciate the good work being done by the Ministry of Sports led by CS Ababu Namwamba at the national level because sports in the country have gone to a higher level,” he said.
Meru county Sports CEC Benjamin Mungania said the 32 men's teams and 16 girls' teams participating in the tournament will greatly improve the economic status of winners and business people.
“Meru government is working hard with other stakeholders and different organizations to bring different types of sports in Meru County," MUngania said.
"Sports will help in combating the menace of early pregnancies and immoral behaviour such as drugs and substance abuse and alcoholism among the youths within the county,” he added.
