Ababu Wants Harambee Stars in 2030 World Cup

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba feels Kenya can qualify for the 2030 World Cup, if issues bedevilling the sport ca be quickly fixed.

In a candid interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Namwamba hinted at the launch of an audacious talent search initiative dubbed Talanta Hela, which will entail having a portal by the sports ministry whereby budding talents will be identified, their videos taken and uploaded on the portal for professional coaches to follow up on them.

Ababu says the initiative's biggest priority will be monetizing sports and arts such that they become more attractive to the young people who will then be taken in by a panel of coaches who will mould them further.

“We will launching a legacy project called ‘Talanta Hela’ which will be about commercializing and monetizing sports and talents where we want to put big money in sports through spotting talents and we want to launch a portal where you can take a clip of anybody and put in the portal for a panel of coaches,” said Namwamba.

The former Budalangi Member of Parliament holds Kenya can make her maiden appearance at the quadrennial jamboree in 2030 if the local administration can get its priorities right.

 “We have ignored the basics in our football, we have ignored the need to invest in talent development, and we have ignored our grassroots football structures.

“We are obsessed with Harambee stars at the top, we are obsessed with the premier league at the top but the premier league and Harambee stars have no feet to stand upon because the structure below is dead,” he added.

His sentiments come a day after Kenya was reinstated to FIFA-sanctioned competitions following a year-long suspension by the global body.