Mombasa kicks off new era as Ksh 14M boost ignites grassroots football revolution

The beautiful game in Mombasa has received a major shot in arm after the county government unveiled a Ksh 14 million sponsorship package set to benefit 155 local football teams, an investment poised to reshape grassroots football across the region.

The funding, targeting clubs under both the Mombasa County Football Association and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), will ease the financial burden on teams by covering affiliation fees and referees’ costs throughout the league season.

Speaking at the launch held at Swahili Pot Hub, FKF Mombasa branch chairman Alamin Ahmed Abdalla welcomed the move, emphasizing its impact on grassroots development.

"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".

His sentiments reflect growing anticipation around the long-delayed Mombasa Municipal Stadium, a project many believe could unlock the region’s full footballing potential once completed.

Mombasa County Football Association official Salim Ali echoed the optimism, linking the investment directly to youth empowerment and social transformation.

"We started this move with the governor since he was the MP of Mvita and am happy he kept his promise and now we are doing it when he is the governor"

"When you touch football you have touched and helped many youths and am glad many will be kept busy in our leagues. We request that you come up with a plan to the children teams since they are the foundation of nurturing talent", he added.

At the heart of the initiative is Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Mombasa into a sporting powerhouse.

"We have started with football but we as county we will have all other spot covered and make our county a sporty county"

Beyond funding, the county is also looking to infrastructure and logistics as key pillars of growth. With plans to revive stalled stadium projects and construct new facilities like Mwahima and Ziwani stadiums, Mombasa is positioning itself ahead of future continental opportunities such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

"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"

In a further show of support, the governor pledged to tackle transport challenges by introducing sports buses, ensuring teams can travel for fixtures without financial strain.