Ojienda to sponsor bill seeking establishment of sports academies

Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda has pledged to sponsor a bill in the senate that will ensure every county has a sports development academy.

He said the bill will seek into having sporting academies throughout the country by enacting law in the Senate.

The move will also compel counties to prioritise investment in sports academies to help nurture talent and improve the growth and development of sports in Kenya.

Ojienda said that when the bill is enacted into law every county will have academies that will help grow sports in the country like in developed countries.

He spoke during Senator Prof Tom Ojienda Super Cup football tournament final at Kit Mikayi in Seme sub-county on Thursday.

The tournament targeted at identifying and nurturing talent among the youth across the county.

A total of 16 teams from the eight sub-counties participated in the tournament.

Ojienda said identifying and developing talent was the best way to promote sports in the country.

“We want to identify talents amongst the youths to grow and take them to the next level in sporting activities. This will improve their income,” he said.

He said raw talents across the country should be developed to enable talented sportsmen and women from across the country to effectively compete in the world.

“These academies will allow talented youths to evaluate and ultimately pick the best talents out there to represent the country in various tournaments,” he said.

The senator pointed out that sports was a well-paying sector and called on counties and the government to promote research and development of talent in sports in collaborations with relevant agencies.

He pledged to work with other leaders in the county to help nurture young talents from the grassroots level.

The senator announced plans to expand the league to include other sports to enable ladies to compete in various sporting activities in the county.

Besides developing sports and talents, Ojienda said they have also hosted cultural events to engage with the people, adding that plans are underway to have the event held annually.

During the tournament, Obunga FC from Kisumu Central sub county beat Wahanda FC from Nyakach sub-county 1-0 in the final.

Obunga FC, which was sponsored by businessman Edward Bob Onyango, was awarded Sh 50,000 apart from the cup with Wahanda FC taking home Sh 30,000.

Onyango lauded the tournament saying it will help nurture talents and promote sports in Kisumu. He pledged to continue supporting sports in Kisumu.

Nyagweno FC  and Oluowa FCwho emerged third and fourth received Sh 15,000 and 10,000 respectively.