A partnership between sports consultancy firm Cageflam Kenya and South Africa-based Bridge Sports Foundation has resulted in 14 Kenyan footballers being awarded sports scholarships to study in the United States.
The weekend selection exercise at Jamhuri High School in Nairobi was attended by over 50 players and overseen by US-based coaches Daniel Smee and Louis Barrow, with assistance from Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya, Cageflam Director Gabe Van Wyk, and former Mathare United coach Boniface Omondi.
Among the 14 selected players, 11 are high school students from seven Nairobi-based High Schools, while the three professional players who made the cut will be announced once they agree to the terms of the scholarship.
Coach Barrow noted that Kenyan football is not as aggressive as in the US, but he was impressed with the talent he saw during the selection process.
Meanwhile, Muluya stressed the importance of the program in ensuring talented athletes achieve their education dreams. He plans to keep tabs on several top talents with the aim of recruiting them for the Kariobangi Sharks team. The selected players will be granted scholarships based on their academic and football capabilities, with exceptional players with good grades being awarded full scholarships.
The Bridge Sports Foundation has already sent over 30 young talented footballers to various US universities and colleges. Sarova Hotels sponsored the exercise as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program.
