The Navakholo Youth Sports Academy has officially been launched at Navakholo Stadium, ushering in a new era for grassroots football development in Kakamega County.

The colorful ceremony kicked off with a curtain-raiser match between Navakholo Legends and Kakamega Legends, drawing huge excitement from fans who turned out in large numbers.

Organizers, led by veteran coach Manyasi Wafula, the Principal of St. Raphael’s Burangasi and vice chair of Sports in Kakamega County together with Oscar Masakha, the Academy Chairman, said the initiative seeks to nurture young footballers from the grassroots.

“We have started the academy to tap talent at the grassroots while children are still young because most of our professional players miss this stage. We are targeting under-15, with several groups starting from under-10,” said Masakha.

The academy already has 40 under-13 players, including 13-year-old Gallant Masakha and 12-year-old Ariel Juma, who joined in March and dreams of becoming the next Neymar.

“This community has natural talent, but because of lack of basic training, many end up at lower levels. That is why we have stepped in,” added Manyasi.

One of the day’s highlights was the under-13 clash between Bushiri Academy and Navakholo Academy, which ended in a draw at full time. The match went into penalties, where Bushiri edged Navakholo 5–4 in a thrilling shootout that showcased the immense potential of budding players.

Manyasi, who has been training players for 34 years and was recently honored with a Head of State Commendation by the President for his role in nurturing talent, emphasized that the academy will give children in the region access to professional coaches and trainers.

“We wish to get support from FKF and the government through the Ministry of Sports to access basic training kits,” he said.

Over the years, Manyasi has produced players now featuring in the Kenyan Premier League and even professional leagues abroad.

Area MP Emanuel Wangwe also supported the launch by sponsoring the training of coaches, who are now actively involved in sharpening young talent.

Organizers further urged parents to encourage their children to take part in sports, stressing that talent pays. They cited global football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, who have built international careers from talent alone.

“We have seen players like Kibet signing for Celta Vigo, earning over 250 million shillings per week. Parents should know that football is a serious career and a source of income,” noted Manyasi.

They also appealed to the government and stakeholders to invest more in talent identification, pointing out that grassroots players are inspired by recent national efforts to uplift football, including the motivation given to Harambee Stars during the CHAN matches.

The launch has been hailed as a milestone in cementing Kakamega’s reputation as a hotbed of sporting passion in Western Kenya.