Why KPL. NSL teams have failed in setting up youth academies

Kenya Premier League (KPL) teams and National Super League (NSL) lack productive academy systems that can help contribute to their stability and long-term team success.

Most of the Football Kenya Federation clubs often operate with barely any youth academies of their own which exposes their scouting shortcomings.

Different stakeholders have shared their thoughts on the same with most citing financial constraints as the key hindrance to such projects.

Vihiga FKF chairperson Kelvin Mwangu admits that lack of structures and financial constraints is the biggest dilemma for KPL and NSL clubs to have junior teams/ academies in place as most of the clubs are also struggling even honoring their league matches and paying players.

Mwangu adds that as a federation putting up some conditions just as they did for KPL teams to have a ladies team will help to ensure that they also have a junior team which will go a long way in developing talents.

“Clubs lacks structures, a good team will always have junior teams, but our KPL/NSL teams are already struggling, if your mind is concentrating in looking for funds for the senior team then thinking about junior teams or academies which also requires investments it becomes a challenge,” Mwangu said.

Mwangu adds that as a federation they need to set up rules of ensuring that KPL/NSL clubs also have junior teams of U-19 which they can collaborate with schools in ensuring it happens.

“Clubs can partner with schools; a team like Vihiga Bullets to partner with a school like Ebwali to be their academy, Kakamega Homeboys to partner with a school like Kakamega High or Musingu High or St. Peters Mumias etc. From my experience it can be easier using schools than those teams setting up their own academies which require a lot of finances and its biggest challenge to our clubs,” Mwangu added.

Kakamega Homeboyz technical director Edward Manoah agrees with Mwangu that lack of finances is the biggest dilemma in setting up academies adding that also lack of knowledge on the importance of academies affects setting up of such structures.

“Most teams are not financially stable, others don’t understand the importance of rolling out those structures of having junior teams, lack of support from management because they are interested in instant results of the main team. Teams that are somehow financially stable lack the good will and emphasis of having junior teams especially form management.

They fail to understand that if junior teams work then the results of the main team will flow and not fluctuate and we will have consistency of performance,” Manoah said.

Former Harambee stars player Boniface Ambani also agrees that Finances is the biggest undoing for Kenyan clubs in setting up academies or junior teams. The former AFC Leopards striker adds that if most clubs are struggling with their senior teams then it will be an uphill task for them to add another budget to them as they require sponsors to manage that.

“Without money you can’t run such programs because those programs need finances. The clubs also lack structures, you need to set up the teams, you have to get coaches, you have to get the grounds where they will be training, you have to get the equipment that they will be using. So it’s a very big project that requires a lot of workmanship and a lot of cash.

Most of our Kenyan clubs can’t even manage what they have as a single club or team now you can imagine adding another luggage to them; the under-14, under 19, under 20, it's difficult,” Ambani said.

As many clubs are struggling to have youth teams and academies, some like Kariobangi Sharks have managed over the years to have youth teams, a culture that has worked for them. Kariobagi Sharks head coach William Muluya says for youth teams to exist, the club has to set up some philosophies and culture.

“It’s all about club philosophy and principles because it’s a youth oriented club. We always acquire fresh talents that have never been exposed, by the same we prefer to preach the philosophy to the youth whom we are having from the youth academy and make it easier that whenever they step up to the senior team it’s a continuation from what they have been given,” Muluya said.