Charles Njoroge vows to bring a new beginning in Nairobi Football

By Fred Maingi

A new Football sheriff is in town, John Njoroge who was elected over the weekend to chair the Nairobi County Football Association (NCFA) has vowed to bring a new beginning in the game.

He has promised to address the challenges facing football namely Corruption,poor leadership,wrangles,poor structures and lack of sound youth programmes.

The new football boss made the announcement after being elected the newly formed NCFA chairman during peaceful elections held at the Shaurimoyo YMCA National Institute last Saturday.

The exercise was supervised by Sports Registrar Rose Wasike and Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) Administrative officer James Akama among other Sports officials.

The entrance of NCFA might be viewed as ambush of football leadership from the Fifa recognised Football Kenya Federation(FKF) but Njoroge insisted they have followed the laid down procedures by holding elections under the Sports Act 2013,Sports registrar regulation Act 2010,NCFA constitution and electoral code.

Njoroge who runs single handedly several football clubs like Utalii FC,Red Carpets,Nairobi Ladies side Ottobenecker and Westlands youthful teams for Under 13,15 and 19 attributed football decline owing to poor leadership and poor structures.
Njoroge beat his opponent Joseph Itotia by 20-6 votes to clinch the plum position.

Other officials voted include Hassan Andale as Vice Chairman, while Wilfred Marori retained his position as Secretary General after holding the position earlier in an acting position.He trounced Isaac Sebi narrowly with 14-13 votes.

Youthful Lillian Muteo was elected the NCFA treasurer after trouncing Ken Omari by 15-11 votes.

The youth representative position went to Moses Were who beat Derrick Otari by 15-11 margin while Elsie Ounga who played for Nairobi ladies football sides led by Fearless Stars and Lifetime Starlets went unopposed as the Women representative.

Njoroge thanked members for giving him the mandate to run NCFA and promised to revamp football in the Nairobi county.He further thanked Sports Registrar and the Kenya National Sports Council for supervising and conducting the exercise transparently.

NCFA,according to Marori, has a 24 teams premier League and a vibrant Division 1,2 and a women football League.

“Having complied with all the Government requirements,we are ready to take charge of football affairs in the country.It will be up for the World governing soccer body Fifa to chose which body to work with either with us or FKF” Observed the new S.G.

Newly elected women representative (Elsie Ounga) described the exercise as free and fair.She said her vision is to see women football goes at par with men’s league.

Ounga,a mother of one, and current Field Assistant with world Vision East Africa said with her long experience in football,she will ensure there is transparency and everything is done over board and every cent received from well wishers and donors is accounted fully.

Four counties led by Uasin Gishu,Mombasa, Nandi and North Eastern held their elections few weeks ago with Nairobi being the fifth county to follow suit.

NCFA will proceed with similar election exercise in TransNzoia,Thika,Garissa and Taita Taveta before proceeding to other counties and thereafter come up with a unified National League before August.

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