The newly appointed first coach for Shabana FC, Osborn Monday, has pledged to partner with schools across Nyanza to identify and train young players who will be recruited to reinforce the team.
Speaking during his unveiling at Gusii Stadium on Friday, Coach Monday was received by one of the team’s executive officers, Stephen Kiama, who commended his entry as an advantage, hoping that Monday would take the team to the next level through his long, undeterred experience.
Kiama also thanked President Ruto for his recent donation of a bus to the club, which he said is a boost to them as it will ease mobility.
“We cannot build a strong team by waiting for ready-made players,” Monday said. “We must go to the schools, work with teachers and games masters, and nurture discipline and skill from the grassroots. The youth are the future of Shabana FC.”
He announced that the club will roll out a school’s outreach programme next month, targeting primary and secondary schools for weekend clinics and holiday camps. The best performers will join the Shabana FC junior academy before graduating to the senior squad.
Coach Monday also underscored the wider importance of sports, especially soccer, among the youth.
“Soccer is more than a game,” he said. “It keeps our young people away from drugs, crime, and idleness. It teaches teamwork, time management, and respect for rules — values we need in life and in nation-building.”
He noted that sports create pathways for scholarships, employment, and exposure, citing several Kenyan players now earning a living locally and abroad after starting in school tournaments.
“An engaged youth is a safe youth. When a boy or girl is training for a weekend match, they have less time for harmful influences. When they wear a team jersey, they carry the pride of their school and village,” Monday added.
Local education officials welcomed the move, saying collaboration between clubs and schools will lift sports standards and improve discipline. The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association, Nyanza region Secretary, Geoffrey Nyantika, said such partnerships help identify talent early while keeping learners in school.
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Shabana FC, formed more than four decades ago through a community initiative, is pushing for a niche in the National Premier League this season. Coach Monday promised fans an energetic, youthful squad driven by local pride.
“Our first assignment is the community. If we get the youth right, the trophies will follow,” he said.
By Enock Okongó
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