Football from the Coastline.

The coast, a region lucky enough to be by the country’s coastline and with a deep rooted love of the game. During the growth phase of a child here, they must have atleast once be actively involved in football. It starts with a group of kids kicking around a woven ball (mostly by paper stacked together by cellotape). Yes, it’s the simplest form of a ball they need to kick around and enjoy the thrill whilst imitating their icons.

As they grow, if not distracted by other issues like family, injury or personal commitments, most likely they join a local club and get into the journey to achieving their dreams. A glowing hope in them to be one day playing for their favorite clubs in Europe. Some have been lucky to get that chance and rise the ranks to competitive football in Kenyan setup others not so much. However, the talent spread in this region is large and their quality atleast above average.

Here in the coast no matter your age, you never stop supporting the game. In the evenings at a local ground in Kisauni you’d see mostly fans of the older age group of over 40+ grouped up surrounding the field watching games. This strong affiliation to fanship has been nurtured over the years because they once played most likely on the same ground and now they give back by being there for the young boys. It is a communal affair, with fundraisers organized from time to time with scarcity of sponsorships within the area. It is the belief that counts!

The structures in place to aid development of players as they progress in their careers into the top flight has been a key issue and of great sore to the residents. They mostly feel that the current system doesn’t favor visibility of talent and a huge pool is left to waste on grassroots level. I’m a Mombasa resident, born and raised and played football in my younger days however stopped active football in my teenagehood due to personal reasons.

You must be asking, do I feel the same? Well, that’s why you’re glued on this piece till now, to find out. I once had a long conversation with Mvita Young Stars founder and sponsor Taufiq Balala with a follow up call on the same. He strongly thinks the Kenyan football system should be changed to accommodate the issues spoken above. I respect his opinion considering he’s done a vast research and can back his argument with statistics.

Now on my view, the structure at the Coast is flawed itself without necessarily involving the league like structure in Kenyan football in this mess. The region has 7 counties; Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Tana River and Kilifi. The efforts by football stakeholders in integrating these counties into a system where there is a healthy ecosystem for cross-region interaction is wanting. They have instead opted to develop the sport separately limiting the absorption to other areas and this is a negative push in player development. Safaricom have really tried with the Chapa Dimba tournament however, it’s a system of winner takes it all which doesn’t favor player development.

At the moment, the only unifying factor has been Bandari FC, main reason being it is the only team playing in the top flight league from the region. Their success thus far has been largely due to their sponsorship by Kenya Ports Authority, also this being their downplay in terms fanbase as they are viewed as a corporate club by locals. In the olden days, locals would support Congo United when they played them in the Mombasa derby.

Efforts have been in place to endear the team to the locals and pull fans which is proving to be a success thus far, kudos to their media department. Also, their recruitment has been angled to absorb the talent across the whole region and create a link to the hearts of the locals.

Question is, in the long run will this be enough for the demands in the Coastal football space? You’re guess is as good as mine, no! For the region to back their inclusivity call to the larger table in Kenyan setup, they need to do enough for themselves. All this is a process and if there is will, there is a way. The local fan is moved to the pitch by his affiliation to his area team thus a lot is needed to elevate the grassroots setting to a regional space.

It remains a jig-saw puzzle and for all the pieces to fall in place it requires collective effort from all stakeholders pushing consistently towards the same vision. Not at a bad place but more could be done to improve the status of things and help the talents achieve their potential.