MOFA Rolls Out U-16 Trials Nationwide to Discover Kenya’s Future Football Stars
The Michael Olunga Foundation Academy (MOFA) has launched a nationwide U-16 soccer trial initiative to uncover Kenya’s next-generation football talent. The trials, which are taking place across various counties, were highlighted during the Kisumu stage by MOFA Technical Director Aol Omondi, who emphasized their role in nurturing players to meet global football standards.
Omondi explained that the academy’s former reliance on school competitions was inefficient and limited in reach. These trials, focused on Grade 8, Grade 9, and Form Two learners, are designed to broaden scouting access and expose young athletes to global football requirements.
The ongoing trials span multiple counties—including Bungoma, Mombasa, Malindi, and Homa Bay—and are expected to conclude later this month. They are part of MOFA’s broader 2026–2028 strategy, which sees advancement into top-tier leagues as a primary objective.
“The goal is to develop elite footballers who can thrive internationally while staying within the education system. That’s why we’re collaborating with schools and local clubs,” noted Omondi.
Partnerships with institutions such as Ringa Boys, St. Mary’s Yala, St. Joseph’s Rapogi, Kisumu Boys, and St. Joseph’s Kitale support this effort to establish football centers of excellence nationwide.
MOFA’s success stories include players earning trials with Sweden’s Vasalund Fotboll—like Rodgers Ouma Onyango, who spent three months there earlier this year—and Jefta Ochieng, who secured a Swedish move in 2024 after being spotted during an elite camp run by the M-Pesa Foundation.
Tags: Mofa
