• Kenya is in the process of setting up a Technical Development Centre in Machakos to the tune of Sh600m from their 2022-2026 Fifa Forward 3.0 funding.
• The total investment for the third edition, FIFA Forward 3.0, is higher than ever before, with an amount of US$ 2,250 million earmarked for the 2023-2026 cycle.
Image: HANDOUT
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have welcomed the sevenfold increase in football development investment by the Fifa council that sees a record investment in football development of $2.25billion (Sh296,773,425,000) earmarked for the 2023-2026 cycle as part of the FIFA Forward 3.0 program.
The Fifa Council this week approved the annual report 2023 that will be distributed to all 211 member associations and submitted to the 74th Fifa Congress in Bangkok on May 17, 2024, for final approval.
FKF president Nick Mwendwa and General Secretary Barry Otieno will attend the congress in Bangkok.
Mwendwa missed last year’s congress in Kigali, Rwanda as he was facing a court case.
“It's really good news for the holistic development of the game and will go a long way in underpinning FKF's grassroots programs, including the construction of a Technical Centre,” said Otieno.
Kenya is in the process of setting up a Technical Development Centre in Machakos to the tune of Sh600m from their 2022-2026 Fifa Forward 3.0 funding.
The Technical Development Centre will have three pitches—two of which will contain artificial grass and another one with natural grass. There will also be administration blocks, facilities for training football coaches, referees, and kids as well as accommodation facilities and a hospital.
“The technical centre is yet to start,” added Otieno. “We are waiting for the transfer of documents from Machakos County.”
FKF were allocated Ksh1 billion ($ 8 million) from the Fifa Forward 3.0—a 29% increase from the previous cycle.
“African countries have not only benefited through the funds but have also gained meaningful expertise by way of training and governance-related workshops, which have led to professionalization and commercialization of the football asset in most African countries,” added Otieno.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino introduced the Fifa Forward program shortly after his election in 2016. Now heading to the Fifa Congress in May and having kick-started the third 3.0 cycle.
“Thanks to its solid financial governance, Fifa is well on track to exceed its budgetary target of US$ 11 billion for the 2023-2026 cycle."
"This means that we will be able to deliver more tailored services for our 211 member associations to assist them in realising their development and education projects and taking football to the next level," said Infantino ahead of the Fifa Congress in May.
The total investment for the third edition, Fifa Forward 3.0, is higher than ever before, with an amount of US$2,250 million earmarked for the 2023-2026 cycle.
For 2025, the figures are as follows: FKF and other member federations will receive Sh164,874,125 ($1.25 million) to cover operational/running costs for football activities; Sh395,697,900 ($3 million) to execute a long-term football development objective at any point during the 2023-2026 cycle and Sh39,569,790 ($0.3m) that is identified as needing the most assistance to cover the costs of travel and accommodation for their national teams as well as football equipment.
The more revenue is generated, the more the global game benefits. Fifa had reinvested more than 89% of its net revenue after sales costs in football by the end of the 2019-2022 cycle.
Fifa is well on track to exceed the revenue cycle budget of USD 11 billion with 41% already being contracted. All major revenue categories surpassed the 2023 budget. Revenue for 2023 exceeded the budget target by 45%.
All this is the result of the good governance and financial success of the organisation. By 2026 Fifa will have invested a record-breaking US$5 billion (Sh659,496,500,000) to develop football across the globe via the 211 Members Association- Kenya included.
It also trickles down to women’s football. The record investment in the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 was a real demonstration of Fifa’s commitment to the women's game.
Fifa was able to treble its financial contributions to players, participating member associations, and the clubs of players who took part in the tournament, from US$ 50 million in 2019 to an all-time high of US$ 152 million in 2023.
This growth goes hand in hand with the development of football at all levels.