The Taita- Taveta second edition super League wholly sponsored by Kenya Ports Authority with 32 teams having featured since it was launched in September last year ended yesterday evening at Moi stadium in Voi sub-county of Taita Taveta County.
The match between Voi Youth FC and Milan Youth FC ended on high note, the two teams showcased an array of skillful players from both teams battled the duel of carrying the trophy.
Milan Youth FC took an early lead in the eighth minute of the first half when Eric Ombija, he displayed his prowess by dribbling the ball pounced past three Gunners Youth players and delivering a precise cross from the six-yard box, leading to the opening goal.
However the gunner’s youth who are reigning champion managed to equalize in the 22nd minute through their agile player Mwasambo Brian.
The two teams tightened their defenses through the second half which led in a final 1-1 draw leading to a penalty shootout.
However Milan Youth FC wrestled the title from defending champions Gunners FC from Voi sub-county in a match that ended in a penalty shootout at the Moi Stadium in Voi.
Governor Andrew Mwadime attended the KPA-sponsored TTCFA mini-league final alongside KPA general manager cargo operations Sudi Mwasinago, who represented KPA managing director Captain William Ruto.
Sudi Mwasigo said the sporting event sponsored by KPA at a tune of Sh 1.5 million not only showcased the exceptional football talent in the county but also served as a platform for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
Mwasigo said Kenya Ports Authority is in talks with the Taita Taveta county government with a view to establishing a football academy in the county.
The authority has been fully sponsoring the Taita Taveta County Football Association league for the 2021/2022 and the 2022/2023 seasons and the amount of raw talent that have been exposed has surprised them.
KPA sponsors Bandari FC which plays in the Football Kenya Federation Kenya Premier League and the team’s technical bench, for the two seasons, has been able to scout players from the county through the league.
Mwasinago also said the KPA also sponsored a referee training course in the county to bridge the gulf in quality between referees from the county and those from Mombasa County.
Governor Mwadime said it is through these partnerships that the county will move forward and the youth will benefit.
“Since we do not have even a single industry here, this is how our youth will get employment and earn a living,” said Mwadime.
However, he lamented the poor state of the football infrastructure in the county including the Moi Stadium in Voi, which he said has been neglected by previous administrations.
“At the moment, contractors alone are owed over Sh1 billion by the county government,” said Mwadime.
“We are trying to get investors to come upgrade this stadium and other football grounds in the county. Money has been allocated for the same in previous administrations but they were all embezzled,” said Mwadime.
He said the county has set aside some Sh3 million to put grass on the stadium.
Erick Kiongo, the Taita Taveta County Football Association chair, said their objective is to identify, nurture and expose talents in the county.
In the first edition in the 2021/2022 season, three young players were identified and joined the Bandari FC set-up with one joining the senior team and the other two joining Bandari Youth but with a full scholarship in education.
Milan Youth FC who won this season’s edition got Sh200,000 in prize money while Gunners FC got Sh100,000, third place winners Kimala FC from Taveta sub-county got Sh60,000 while the fourth place winners Chala FC, also from Taveta sub-county got Sh40,000.
The FA has asked that the participating teams be increased to 42 to include teams from Wundanyi sub-county that have not been participating for the last two editions.
BY KNA