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AFTV founder Robbie Lyle urges Kenya to invest in grassroots and women’s football to unlock the nation’s full potential.
Arsenal Fan Television (AFTV) founder Robbie Lyle has called for a complete overhaul of football development in Kenya.
The renowned British sports influencer is in Kenya for a week-long visit alongside fellow AFTV presenter Cecil Jee Thomas and members of the AFTV crew.
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During a press briefing at Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Lyle expressed admiration for the overwhelming passion Kenyan fans show for football, but voiced his concern over the national teams’ failure to turn that enthusiasm into success on the international stage.
“I’m surprised (by Kenya’s persistent poor performance in football) when you see the passion of the fans in Kenya,” Lyle observed as per Nation.
Disappointed by Lack of Progress
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Kenya's men’s national football team, Harambee Stars, has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup and has failed to progress beyond the group stages in their six Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) appearances.
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Lyle noted the contrast between the country’s football fervor and its lack of success, pointing out that only one Kenyan, Victor Wanyama, has ever played in the English Premier League.
“The men’s team hasn’t done better over the years even in the Afcon… I’m surprised that we haven’t seen more (Victor) Wanyamas. Hopefully, we see more somewhere in the English Premier League,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the historic achievement of the Kenya Under-17 women’s football team, the Junior Starlets, who made headlines by becoming the first Kenyan national side to compete in a FIFA World Cup.
Women’s Football Holds the Key
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Lyle believes that boosting women’s football in Kenya could be key to unlocking broader success in the sport.
“What you’ve got to do is grow the game from the grassroots. First of all, get more women playing football. The more women play football then you start to push up. If you start to see success then more and more women will get involved and more and more people will want to watch it,” Lyle said.
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He added that women's football is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, and Kenya could benefit by tapping into that momentum.
AFTV’s Influence Beyond Arsenal
While in Nairobi, Lyle also took time to speak about his beloved Arsenal FC.
Reflecting on the club's performance this season, he said the Gunners showed promise in the UEFA Champions League but were derailed in the Premier League due to injuries and lack of reinforcements in the January transfer window.
“I don't think Mikel Arteta should be fired because of all the injuries the team faced in the ending season, but I think next season, if he doesn't win something, it's almost inevitable that he has to leave because he can't just be nearly getting there,” he said.
Lyle also stirred rivalry sentiments, admitting he would rather see Manchester United win the Europa League than see Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur lift the trophy.
“I think I would much rather have Man United win that than Spurs. I can't take the Spurs winning that. At least when I go to Man United, I can walk to the ground. When I go to Spurs, they're looking to kill me. I want them to lose,” he said.
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Lyle’s presence in Kenya has been warmly received, with fans hopeful that his global platform will shine a spotlight on the potential of Kenyan football and inspire change from the bottom up.
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