McDonald Mariga Issues Major Plea to Football Academies as FKF Launches Landmark Youth Development Initiative

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President MacDonald Mariga has urged structured football academies nationwide to collaborate with the federation to establish a robust youth development system.

Mariga, who also serves as the chairman of the FKF Youth Committee, made the appeal following the launch of a pioneering partnership between the federation and the Acakoro Football Academy.

Speaking at the unveiling of the collaboration in Nairobi, the former Harambee Stars midfielder hailed the initiative as a pivotal moment for Kenyan football and encouraged other development centres to get involved.

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"As chairman of the youth committee, I am delighted about this partnership," Mariga stated as quoted by Capital Sports.

"I want to urge other structured academies to come on board and partner with FKF so that we can give our youth a real sporting chance. When we work together, we can identify and nurture talent that will become great in their careers and lift our nation."

The FKF-Acakoro partnership, announced by FKF President Hussein Mohammed, establishes Kenya's first residential high-performance programme for young footballers.

Starting this month, the two organisations will jointly scout players born in 2011 and later across five regions. The most promising talents will be awarded full scholarships to join Acakoro's elite residential programme in Homa Bay.

This comprehensive programme integrates a CBC-aligned education with sports science, modern analytics, technical coaching, and a structured daily routine. The ultimate goal is to build a competitive Kenyan squad capable of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Mariga, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of Kenya's most celebrated footballers, stressed that the country's next generation needs more than just hope; they require structured pathways to success.

"This partnership is great for the future of football in our country. Our young players need proper systems, and for that, we need more academies to join hands with us," he added. "The future stars of Kenya are out there; we just need to find them, develop them, and give them pathways to succeed."

His comments underscore the federation's long-term vision of creating sustainable structures that will transform Kenyan football from the grassroots level up, marking a significant shift in the nation's approach to youth development.