By Andrew Mbuva.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Machakos branch has rolled out an ambitious countywide talent scouting initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing football talent, culminating in the formation of Machakos All-Stars teams for both men and women.
The programme officially kicked off in Masinga, where dozens of aspiring players turned up for trials at Masinga Stadium. At the end of the exercise, 30 standout players were selected to form the Masinga All-Stars team. The scouting caravan is set to move across other sub-counties including Yatta, Mwala, Kangundo, Kathiani, Machakos Town, Mavoko, Matungulu, and Kalama.
The exercise is being spearheaded by a team of seasoned coaches led by former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno, who holds a CAF A coaching license. He is joined by Abib Hussein (Coach, Kapa FC), John Kamara (Coach, Equity Bank FC, CAF B), Fred Mwanzia (Coach, Katoloni FC, CAF B), and Daniel Munyasya of Machakos Talent Academy (CAF C), among others.
Speaking after the Masinga trials, Otieno noted that while many local tournaments are held, they often end at the competition stage without long-term player development. He said the new initiative, under the Captain Irene Ndanu Soccer Summit, seeks to shift focus towards structured talent identification and team building across the county.
“We have immense talent at the grassroots level that has remained untapped. With proper structures and guidance, we can identify and develop players who can compete at higher levels,” said Otieno, adding that the technical team is committed to offering direction and mentorship to the selected players.
Participants lauded the initiative as a game-changer. Faith Mwove, one of the players, described the exercise as the first of its kind in the county and encouraged those selected to seize the opportunity and work hard. Japheth Muia, another participant, termed the event an eye-opener, noting that it provided a rare platform for players to showcase their abilities individually.
Machakos FKF official Abdi Noor confirmed that the scouting exercise is part of the broader Captain Irene Ndanu Soccer Summit. He explained that the summit not only focuses on player scouting but also includes referee training and coaching courses, bringing together international, national, and local expertise.
The initiative ultimately aims to select the best 30 male and 30 female players from across the county to form the Machakos United FC teams, with the long-term goal of nurturing talent and creating pathways for players to advance in professional football.
