Step up football standards, says Uhuru

By PPS

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for streamlining the management of football, which is the most popular sport in Kenya.

Addressing golfers during the Chairman’s Prize in Nyeri, on Saturday, President Kenyatta said: “We must improve the standards of football in the country so that our teams can excel in the region, in the continent and beyond.

“We need also to get our people to enjoy football made in Kenya rather than just watching the English league.  Similarly, we should raise the standards of other sports including reclaiming our lost glory in boxing.

“We should also provide additional support to our national rugby team that is making good gains internationally.”

The President paid tribute to the organisers of the golf event.

“Although this tournament has been held in Nyeri, which has been a Provincial town for decades, the tournament itself has been national in stature, attracting some of the best golfers in the country.  It is encouraging to note that a total of 212 golfers participated in the tournament.

“This is a remarkable number of participants and a clear indication that golf is expanding in the country. I call on those in charge of the game of golf in Nyeri, and the country at large, to ensure that structures are in place to promote further growth of the sport in the country,” the President said.

“Indeed, I wish to call upon sports managers to put measures to ensure that our reputation in athletics is replicated in other sporting disciplines.” 

He said there is need to encourage and motivate our athletes in order to sustain our reputation as the home of the world’s best athletes.

“As we seek to promote sports in the country, we must bear in mind that golf, and indeed other sports disciplines, are no longer mere social events for recreation and entertainment. Today, sports is a major source of income and are employing thousands of people worldwide. We are, therefore, seeking to build a vibrant sports industry.”