Former Harambee Stars legend Sammy Owino Kempes says nurturing talent from the grassroots through the introduction of youth academies will be his priority if elected to the Football Kenya Federation(FKF) top seat.
The FKF elections are scheduled for February next year and interested candidates have already started submitting their bids for the coveted position.
Incumbent Nick Mwendwa will not be defending his seat after serving the mandatory two of four-year terms.
Kempes indicated that building football from the grassroots would in turn create a pathway for the development of talent among the youth all the way to the national stage.
“We need to build football from the grassroots because that is where our football starts. We have to create a pathway for young talented players to make their name all the way to the national team,” Kempes said.
The US-based former Harambee Stars and Gor Mahia midfielder currently runs a football academy in the US and is now seeking to invest back home with the view of raising the next generation of stars.
Speaking at Panari after declaring interest in the FKF presidency, he said the federation needed to invest in youth development infrastructure, coaching as well and player scouting in a bid to grow the sport.
He said he is up to the task and ready to steer the federation to the next level.
Kempes, who has served as a player and a coach added that bringing in accountable and honest individuals would restore trust in the federation.
“I have been a player and coach so I have the experience and competence which gets things done. My vision is for football to be an example where people look at Kenya in high regard .”
He also said the Kenyan football system needed to move with technology as AFC Leopards have done through their E-ticketing method in order to curb corruption in the federation.
Leopards recently launched an E-ticket platform that would be used to purchase match tickets throughout the season and they have had immense success.
