MOMBASA, Kenya- Grassroots football in Mombasa has received a significant boost after the county government unveiled a Sh14 million sponsorship package targeting 155 local football teams.
The funding will support clubs affiliated to both the Mombasa County Football Association and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), easing operational costs by covering league affiliation fees and referees’ expenses throughout the season.
The initiative, launched at Swahili Pot Hub, marks one of the biggest county-backed investments in grassroots football in the coastal region and is expected to strengthen youth talent development while reducing the financial pressure facing community clubs.
FKF Mombasa branch chairman Alamin Ahmed Abdalla welcomed the sponsorship, saying the investment could transform local football if matched with improved sports infrastructure.
“Let’s walk the talk. We want the promise of our big stadium to end by December as promised by the National Government, who are now in charge of its construction. It will be a game changer to all of us,” he said.
His remarks renewed focus on the delayed rehabilitation of Mombasa Municipal Stadium, a facility widely viewed as critical to reviving top-level football and nurturing professional talent at the Coast.
Mombasa County Football Association official Salim Ali linked the sponsorship programme to youth empowerment and crime prevention, arguing that football remains a key social and economic outlet for many young people.
“We started this move with the governor since he was the MP of Mvita and I am happy he kept his promise, and now we are doing it when he is the governor,” he said.
“When you touch football, you have touched and helped many youths, and I am glad many will be kept busy in our leagues. We request that you come up with a plan for children’s teams since they are the foundation of nurturing talent,” he added.
Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir said the county plans to expand support beyond football and position Mombasa as a regional sports hub.
“We have started with football, but we as a county will have all other sports covered and make our county a sports county,” he said.
The governor said the county administration was also prioritising sports infrastructure, including stalled stadium projects and new facilities such as Mwahima and Ziwani stadiums, as part of preparations to attract future continental competitions and sports tourism opportunities linked to events such as the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We handed over the Mombasa Stadium after my talks with the president and agreed to finish the remaining works. We are in the process of clearing the debt owed by the contractor before the works commence officially and the national government takes it fully,” Nassir said.
In another intervention aimed at reducing operational challenges for local clubs, the governor pledged to introduce sports buses to help teams travel for fixtures without incurring heavy transport costs.
