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McDonald Mariga has explained FKF's plans to finally build a technical centre for all of Kenya's national teams.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has revealed plans for the organisation to build a technical center that will serve as a base for Kenya’s national teams.
Mariga, who is currently in Egypt as part of Kenya’s delegation for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), was speaking from Rising Stars base camp in Cairo before the side take on Morocco in their first game of the tournament on Thursday, May 1 from 9.00 PM.
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14:00 - 28.04.2025
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A Vision Rooted in Experience
Mariga, who alongside his brother Victor Wanyama, has invested into a football academy in Busia to help nurture talents in that area, was lucky enough to play for some of Europe’s best clubs during his career, including Inter Milan.
Now, he has revealed how he plans to use those lessons to make Kenya come up with such an institution once and for all during his tenure in office.
“Egypt started this initiative of coming up with technical centres a long time ago and we have learnt a lot from them,” Mariga told FKF Media.
“ We have been to Dubai and Qatar and seen their technical centers. As a footballer, I watched a lot of them. Soon, we will start our own so that we can create a platform to nurture our talents better.”
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Firat’s Earlier Call for Infrastructure
Former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat himself had expressed the importance of Kenya having a technical centre to help with the development of the game in the country in an interview with Passion Sports last August.
“It does not make sense if we have only one training field. We need a national team training center, which means a facility where all teams can train, including the youth teams, the women's teams, and any other formations,” said Firat.
According to Firat, the facility should include around three hotels to accommodate different teams simultaneously, at least three training fields (one of which should be synthetic), and a fully equipped gym.
Such a large-scale project would require significant funding and collaboration among various agencies, but Firat is optimistic about the solution.
“It is a big project; it is not simple, but with grants from FIFA, the federation wouldn’t have to approach the ministry constantly for funding,” he explained.
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Mariga Confident in Rising Stars at U20 AFCON
Meanwhile, Mariga has expressed confidence Salim Babu’s current charges have what it takes to do well in their maiden appearance at the tournament, where they will also face Tunisia and Nigeria in a tough group B.
With both the AFCON U20 and the FIFA U20 World Cup normally held biannually, FIFA and CAF are reportedly contemplating making the tournaments annual, and Mariga emphasized the importance of consistent competition for youth development.
“The team is prepared for a win. I do not see how anyone can stop us. We will take it one game at a time, but we have to give it our best shot because there are no big teams or small teams.
“We have prepared well, we have a good team and we know results will come.”“(If) we will be having AFCON U20 annually, as well as the FIFA U20 World Cup, (it) will be good for the development of the game.”
Mariga urged the Rising Stars players to use the opportunity to market themselves in order to potentially secure moves abroad.
“There will be several agents coming here to scout talents, so I hope the players can take full advantage.”
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