Football tournament targets youths in Nyeri, fights illicit brews

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has partnered with a local organisation to roll out a football tournament in Nyeri County in a bid to unchain youths from the bondage of drugs and illicit brews.

The tournament, dubbed Peniel Football Evangelism, kicked off in Othaya on Sunday and will proceed until November 17, 2024.

The tournament's organiser Michael Njoroge said the partnership with FKF targets to reach out to over 40,000 youths from the county.

Mr Njoroge said the have enlisted 87 teams which will participate. They include 79 teams for males and eight(8) for females.

"The purpose of this tournament is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the youths through sports. We want to rescue our youths from drugs and substance abuse," Mr Njoroge said.

He said the event is aimed at supporting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his efforts of fighting illicit brews menace in the country.

"This is a societal social problem faced by our youths here in Mt Kenya region. We have partnered with FKF to make this tournament successful," the organiser said.

FKF Nyeri County Chairman Chrispine Ochieng' said the federation is keen to nurture more talents at the grassroots.

"Our aim as a federation is to nurture talents at the grassroots level and grow them to national and international levels. We are partnering with Peniel to ensure that we tap more talents," Mr Ochieng' said.

Othaya pastors fellowship chairman, Rev Simon Macharia, said they will ensure that they reach out to youths in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri Town, Kieni, Mathira, Tetu, and Othaya constituencies.

"Youths who have excelled in sports have done so by receiving the gift from God. We support this initiative of reaching out to the youths through sports,"  Rev Macharia said.