EU to nurture young talented Kenyan footballers, says Ambassador Geiger

European football teams will be scouting for players from Kenyan schools, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger has said.

Countries forming the union have started a football tournament dubbed Europe Day in Kenya to look for the best players and have them in their teams.

Geiger said they are planning to regularly hold such initiatives in Kenya to have talented young men and women identified and nurtured for the game.

EU organised a a two days football event in Homa Bay where selected teams especially secondary school girls and boys showcased their talents by playing the game. The tournaments are in line with celebrations which countries under the EU will hold on May 9.

Apart from Homa Bay, other counties playing the game are Marsabit, Kilifi and Nairobi. In Homa Bay, Kobala Girls and Ringa Boys were picked and after they emerged as winners in the county competition.

They will play against other teams at the finals from the four counties participating in the same tournament.

Speaking on Sunday, Geiger said winners of the final tournament will have an opportunity to train with the Romania National football team.

“EU is working on how to get air tickets for the players. They will get trained before the most talented players are picked,” Geiger said.

The ambassador who was hosted by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said they also expect to annually hold the Europe Day Kenya Football Tournament in Kenya. The games in Homa Bay were held at Raila Odinga Stadium.

"Just like Talanta Hela, we want to make the game an annual event. EU is working with partners like Acakoro and German Development Programme to promote the football tournament," the ambassador said.

Governor Wanga has expressed confidence that her county will win the competition.

She argued that Homa Bay has many youths talented in football and that they encourage teams from the county to win the competition.

Wanga said Homa Bay is best placed to win the Kenya Europe Day football tournament because they have won similar games before.

The county men's football team won the inaugural Talanta Hela tournament held in Nairobi in December last year.

"We are confident that we will win this one as well because the games are similar. The records speak for themselves," Wanga said.

According to the governor, the game will offer players an opportunity to be selected to play in other tournaments including international games. She said they are encouraging youths to use football as a source of income.

"Homa Bay wants to be recognised as a sports destination," she said.

The tournament comes at a time when two incredible sporting events are taking place in Europe this year.

First, there is the 17th edition of the UEFA European Football Championship (UEFA EURO 2024) which is set to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024. The second competition is the second Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France from 26 July 26 to August 11.

To mark these two amazing quadrennial international events the European Union Delegation to Kenya together with its Member States and with the support of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports decided to host the Europe Day Kenya Football Tournament to celebrate Europe Day with the youth.