 Welcome to the touchline here on Y2F4. We're still talking much more about football. We've just watched the highlights of what happened during the week. Big matches are also coming up and we'll be talking about the match later on, but it is that segment where we did get it to local football and much more about grassroot football considering that we've got the Sakaja Super Cup that is happening here in Nairobi. We have been promising to talk about this competition. We have just been giving snippets of it mostly on our shows, but today we are going to talk extensively about the Sakaja Super Cup and joining us to talk about that is none other than Eric Aganyan and also we've got Ken Andrews here in studio with us. Eric, welcome to the touchline. How are you doing? Thank you, thank you, Robert. I'm good. Yes. I'm struggling with the reins. It is Eric cut some dogs. Yesterday was a mess. Today I've been to the fields. Yes. You see, most of our fields don't have grass. Can you imagine the games are going on? Yes. I've been with the reins. We are struggling, but basically the people are happy. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Well, Ken is also here with us. Your highlight of the week has been which one? It's a highlight or a low light. Low light. It comes to football. Yes. It has to be around Manchester United being whipped 3 nil by Newcastle. Yes. It was a low point to me. That's what stood out in the week. Not positively, but it remains a fact. Yes. Yeah. Ken, have a highlight of the week? I think we should sit in the same seat. But I think it was also great to see how people have embraced rugby and to see how many people the reactions in this country that came off the rugby World Cup final. Yes. People are watching it all over and so I think it should also give a desire to our players, especially the 15s who have never reached where the 7s have to try and go for something. I know rugby is sort of still in a sticky place, especially in the 7s, but I think that shows that you can get there. You can get there, you can fight because we saw South Africa play, how they played in the final, they didn't even need tries to win, converting everything. So you can still strategize from there. We have powerful, powerful kickers in this country naturally. Don't need to do anything to kick that ball all the way up. So you know it should give desire to this young players to someone to one day want to be there. Yes. Well it's a big weekend also when it comes to rugby as Ken has stated because we've got the Victoria Cup happening tomorrow in Kampala between Uganda and Kenya and also it marks the start of the Elgon Cup. This one goes way back to the people who watched it. I think the last one we had the Elgon Cup and Victoria Cup was way back in 2010 and it is back on the cards. After Uganda's game it will be back in Kisumu and we'll be seeing how it is going on there. But let's come back to the Sakaja Super Cup and Eric, the thing is for anyone who doesn't know the Sakaja Super Cup how can you tell us what is actually the Sakaja Super Cup? I think it's a tournament that is ongoing right now on the ground across Nairobi as you realize that Nairobi is divided into constituencies and further on divided into wards. So it is a tournament that is being played in each and every constituency. Currently we have 17 constituencies and 85 wards. So it's a grass roots tournament that is attaching the Komunmona Inchi down there because it is not played in a few stadiums, it is played across the city in the sense that it's being felt by all the wards. You find that the way the government organized the tournament was really brilliant because each and every wards produces four teams. Now it's upon the teams within the wards to agree on modalities on how to produce the four teams. So definitely we find that I sample out one of the wards where I've really been involved in Kaha West ward under Dr. Clement Kamaru. We find that what we did, we have zoned Kaha West into different regions. So we have committee area, so committee area produces a team. So the teams that are within committee area, they go and agree. Are you going to play a mini league to give us one team? Are you going to combine to give us your best team? Or whatever method you're going to use. So we have Kaha West Post Association that will sit, sat down and came and then we have Kamae area. Kamae area also produces one team. And then we have Kiwanja area to produce one team and then we have Joakarni and Kuaere. So you find that committee agreed and produced committee team. It's called committee club and then Kamae produce city sports and then we have now Kiwanja producing saints and the Kuaere Joakarni area producing Kaha Pride. Now the four teams join from Kaha West, they come and join Ghidorai ward that has produced four teams Reisambu ward, Zimaman ward and Kaha ward. So we have a total of 20 teams in Reisambu which are pulled basically into two pools. Now they play one another. So you see there's a lot of football happening on the grassroot and this whatever is happening in Reisambu has been replicated in Kasarani constituency, Dagoreti constituency, Westlands constituency. So I'm just using Reisambu as a sample. So you find that now the two pools, the top teams are the ones now that will progress to the next level. So what this tournament has done, it has given people a chance to now witness because again it has also had an impact on these teams because the teams that were produced were kicked by the governor. So the issue of uniform from the socks were kicked by the governor. You see now those teams I think they were given two pairs of uniform each. So if I remember that's a plus because most of these teams that were produced have been playing the national league, the sub county league, the county league. So you find that they have been struggling. The governor to us from now people are involved in grassroot football has really assisted us because they have been struggling with uniform. Now they have at least two pairs of uniform. So that was another advantage. And then now you find that each constituency they have two grounds where these games are being played. Going back for example again we have the Ghidorai ground and Mahiga primary. So in each constituency those games are being played. Ghidorai is like a community ground. It's a community ground. Mahiga is a primary school because where there is no community ground we use now the primary schools or the secondary schools. Because when Mahiga was still being made we used community grounds. So that coordination between now the locals and the county council. When this thing was launched actually here in Nairobi by the governor and people came in one key point that came out was also the support that football Kenya Federation was going to bring into this tournament. As a federation that runs football here in Kenya how has it come in to help the super cup going on? The federation has come in in different ways first and foremost is technical advice. Because you see now the federation has been charged with the responsibility of organizing football in the whole country. So they give technical advice to us who are coordinators because we have coordinators now from the county side to the county level So coordination in terms of fixtures coming up with fixtures is not an easy thing and then also officiating of those matches because the referees we are using are FIFA credited and those ones are registered with FKF so FKF has also as a list of the referees so who will which officials will man which field and they are also monitoring as the games go on Yes they have the officials working around monitoring to see that whatever rules that are supposed to be but most importantly the technical advice has been really greatly appreciated from the county side because these are actually many matches 340 teams that are going to play and when is the climax of the tournament? I think the finals are some time in December just before Christmas around December 15 where we have the finals and Makiu robot this is now men the women it's also supposed to be rolled out so you see this was like a pioneer you see what challenges are there we tackle them, we deal with them so now in the subsequent years we will have this tournament this tournament now having the main side and then maybe what the governor his vision according to what I understood he was saying that after by the third year because it's the first year by the third year we introduce different categories we have above 35 those who retired we have young people young kids because you see this tournament is coming at the right time because it's over the holidays you see this where now most of our young people engage in different vices Ken, from your side what do you make of grass roots football so far when you look at these tournaments that are actually coming up and mostly targeting the youths in this country I think they are one of the best things we will have at the moment because you look at the mainstream leagues from the premier league to NSL and everything I think it's not enough for everyone to get an opportunity but this tournament has really done that you look at the number of teams that have been registered to play I think it's a lot and also you look at the end because I have interacted with the people, some of the teams that play there I know people from Kibra golf course I know my people are there and one thing that stands out for them is the prize money prize money is everything and I think it's also a good motivation if you can play in grass roots and win that amount sets up your team really really good in coming years so one thing I'd like to see is connected to the prize money here is FKF are seeing this seeing the money that this team would win and last season they had problems with funding for their prize money we can expect something similar so I think maybe as they are working with the organizers to teach them some things in fixtures maybe they can also learn and maybe they can contact the governor's office find out how they can seek the funds to give a better prize money and everything and you see all the teams have been given kids so I think also for them because people have been watching them from the outside and say FKF have missed you because also there are leagues sometimes the division give one and give two some teams do not have the finances to go to the NSL or the league above them maybe this could be the chance to learn how to sort those problems and try to iron out issues in our grass roots one thing I can ask actually Eric as someone who has been now as we are sharing with these youths at one on one basis I can say because you are there organizing and everything and seeing it now coming into play coming into function what are some of the lessons you have picked up from how this tournament is organized and how these youths are embracing this tournament I think the first thing that has really caught me today actually got a little bit late because I was at my primary is our young people love football so much I just went in through the initiative of Dr. Clement also in support of that so I was taking some water and glucose for them and something caught my eye City Sports one of our teams was getting into to play these games begin at 10 am in the morning in one day we have like four games 10 am, 12 am, 2 am and then 4 am and these young men they have changed and they are there and the coach is telling me we have just got some bananas to give these guys because they haven't taken lunch look at the love for the game they haven't taken lunch they are coming from harsh backgrounds, humble backgrounds that is lesson number one that our young people love sports and love football so much and if we support them and if we have so many of these we have so many leaders here and since many leaders can take initiative and start such kind of things because as Ken Andrews said the prize money every team is looking at that 3 million and they are looking at that 3 million as a team to improve their lives and they run us up I think it's 2 million and then number 3 is 1 million so you see they are looking at that if we can have these leaders coming in that's if we can come up and start his tournament let the studies come up and then it trickles down to area MCAs MPs and area MCAs so that in May you are playing a tournament in August you are playing a tournament in December you are playing a tournament I have also learnt that now through interaction that our people our young people are really really really talented it's just exposure and I believe these tournaments when we play many of them these young people these young boys and girls they will be noticed and you see it will be a motivation to them when one of them is picked the others will look at it and say I want to be like so also and you see and then lastly also football in Kenya is a unifying factor yes race aside tribe aside now not only the players on the field but the fans also last weekend I was at Ghidorai the community field let me tell you about the field was packed and for the love of the game there was even some commentary was going on local comment a gentleman he calls himself and some boy he is doing a brilliant job in terms of commentary and you just love the environment and you see unifying thing and a recreation of facility and the guys were there from 10 crowds people come from the church they joined I went there around 2 I couldn't even find someone to park someone to sit and that tells you something about grassroot football if we can support it it is the beginning of everything and even if we look at people support their teams from the ground those teams that are playing down there they have fans childhood fans they have grown loyal and you see that creates support for these teams because support will not come only in the fanatical base but also sponsors will come and local businesses will want to support those teams to see what you require but your players require this they will come in and support and you see in the process will grow local food it's a big one there and I saw that team in March 3 I saw 2-2 with city sports getting their goals from Anthony Muteño in the 50-50 minute and much Ishmael in the 86 minutes as city sport is called courtesy of a first minute goal by Omondi Kennedy like by Ngugi Stephen in the 80-80 minute so big games that were going there we also got a lot of fixtures we'll be reading some of them as we go on in Kibra sub-count we had Aksa FC won by one goal over Mashimoni as interbase FC drew 2-2 with the Kenya science ballers Laini Sababitkas Blanka Wanilwile Katwe Kerahali stars played settled on a goal with golf course united in Roaraka Green rabbits were beaten by two goals to one by royal stars Ken this shows how much talent that we have got actually in the country and this is just in Nairobi alone and not even if you could have said let every now word bring all the teams that they have got it was a challenge coming up with the four teams without Otago after some teams in my area they should change we have a team in Zimbabwe called Bulldog as a Bulldog we have a team in Kamae in our area called ABC we have so many teams that wanted to be there you see the teams that are already there and as you are mentioning the results actually if you look at some of the teams to beat we have gas it has won all these games we have committee also those are the teams to watch from that area it shows how much talent that we have in this country and the big question is how can we harness now this talent to make it the best of the best for Kenya I think this is a really good initiative because the Sakaja Super Cup everyone the organizing party is doing a good job for the Premier League and NSL teams because they now know where to go and scout it has been centralized if these teams are playing here you can send a person to look at the guys and also the players who are supposed to be integrated are also being a little bit learning how to play in competition that has a serious prize at the end because sometimes you may be playing in this local tournaments and they do not at the end you may walk home without anything but now they are learning to play with a grand goal at the end I think it's a really good thing but especially for the scouting because we had been dependent on the high school games and all but this in Nairobi the Nairobi best sides sides like Karyo Bangishaks Madara United went down last season they could be using this tournament to try and look at who comes for Madara United next season the future for them because now the talents you wouldn't normally see because you are travelling to play in Mombasa you are travelling to play, they have been centralized it's just a club to send scouts go to Ghidorai, go to Kibra simple and at the end they will play at Nyayo and Kasarani centralized positions you do not even have to fund it that much for them so I really wish that they take this opportunity and try and give this young kids and youth the opportunity to play for their sides because as Erika said the youth love football but there is always a sort of disconnect looking at the number of them who make it from the grass fruits clubs to the Premier League in particular seasons there is sort of a disconnect so maybe this tournament and subsequent tournaments because as he said again let the senator do one the women's rave can even handle the lady's side for this super cup the more they come up the better for our football there is a target we have AFKON in 2027 there is a target to qualify for the World Cup tournaments like this grass roots where people want to play football local talent local support this is what will help Kenya push its football agenda you look at again as you were saying you look at the Sunday League in England even when you reach the Premier League you are attached to that Sunday League side you may be playing with your dad and your uncle and it's in your heart and that's what this Sakajaka can create in Kenya football you talked about your area MCA coming in and trying to support the teams from his own area and everything is that the kind of goodwill that the Sakajaka Super Cup is getting from the area MCA and some of the people in the politics I was just seeing the map out to Dr. Clement because of his love for the community but also I think I've attended the games and I've seen the local leadership coming up the area MCA for Roy Sambu Word at committee 2 weeks ago when his teams were also playing a week ago I was with Dionysius Mwangi the area MCA for Gidurai and he was there supporting his teams Utika Smukili the same Kimani Mugo the same so you find that once these MCA are embracing this and that synergy is really really important when you get it from the local leadership because you see as much as the Sakajaka provided from the secretariat provided uniforms they provided they provided balls but you see there are some small issues like glucose like water the team is supposed to move from Zivaman to come and play at Mahiga primary you see the area MCAs are coming in to support that like I was telling you city sports going into the game they haven't taken lunch so you see Dr. Clement comes in and assists here and there and that touch is important and you see when our leaders now put their political differences aside because this now we are not in the campaign period we are working for the community and if we can put our political differences aside and deliver for the community you find that now come 2027 even most of them will make it back because you will have come down with your community and supported the young people in terms of projects in terms of social things like these ones and you move forward and actually known their problems known their problems interacted with them you see when you interact with them you hear what are their challenges and actually that is the major thing as we are concluding this segment and briefly tell us from what we have seen so far we have just played three match days from what we have seen so far we have still got a month and a half to December when we can actually get on to the finals and we have got the draw of the 32 teams that now will culminate to bring in the final show piece is it going to be a very good extravaganza come December it's going to be a ride like no other because I was telling you if you are a lover of football and you sit in some of those let me call them stadiums in quotes the environment you see it has brought together I was in Ghidorahi it has brought together that drunkard in the market that mamamboga that young man and that professional now somebody who goes to the office on Sunday now they are there and then again something that I had forgotten the ripple effect on the small small businesses around because you see you are talking about 1000 people in that ground those who are selling those who are selling sweets, water and small small things it's somewhere that on Sunday you want to go there and release all the pressure and laugh we have guys it's a ride like no other and then the talent also whatever is going on in football on that pitch and that tells you something not only now on these boys but also we have talent when it comes to coaching because you see this team has been prepared by a coach who Israeli talked about by a coach who was put in dealing with the community is not easy dealing with a kid whose parent fought yesterday so he didn't come he didn't sleep at home he didn't have a kid who has come to take breakfast I want to give it to these coaches and the teams of these teams I think they are doing a brilliant job because now bringing these kids and telling these kids to believe in football and that football is what brings them joy is not an easy thing so it's going to be a good ride it's going to be a good holiday I think the people of Nairobi will be entertained this holiday and now when we come to the latest stages of the tournament by the time we are getting to the quarterfinals I think you will see that we need to be winning the Afghan if we can make use of those players and give them an equal opportunity without favoritism without anything we will perform well in the Sakaja Super Cup today is the fourth march day in the Sakaja Super Cup that will be happening all around Nairobi as those teams are actually playing we've got five minutes to finish this segment and I cannot let you go Eric without talking about your favoritim Manchester United they are all against Fulham from 330 local time here and it will be a tough afternoon for United problem is the joy that the Sakaja Super Cup is not being killed by Manchester United all of a sudden I think as we are speaking with Kenya of the camera is that Manchester United has issues and I want to believe the issue is not with the coach the issue is with the structure of the club because you see we have had Moes we had Vangal, we had Morinio we had Olegana we had this Ragnik now we have Ten Haag we had Karik at one given time all these guys can't be wrong there is something with the structure of the club that has to change there is something with the attitude of the players that has to change I was reading today and the players are saying the coach is too tough what do you expect him to come late and the coach doesn't talk can we take pep there will all those players be there some of those players will be kicked out because take club there some of those players will be kicked out because rules are rules but I think there is so much to do with Manchester United that is happening of the pitch they take over also drugs and drugs and it was messy you see right now we don't know what is coming there is a lot of confusion and a lot of uncertainty because you don't tell me it's a coach same coach who stabilised things last season can not be suffering now no there is something about the structure and then the belief has gone in football if you played football it's about psyche and it's about moral and belief I looked at the players of Manchester United during the international break what these players are doing for their national teams Rashford included he played brilliantly for England Maguaya played brilliantly for England Bruno played brilliantly for Portugal Ericsson played brilliantly Kasamiro the same now what happens when these players come to Manchester United so this team and the confidence has taken a hit and the coach has to find something to do and do it very fast because you see now all the other teams are believing that they want to play Manchester United right now they are confident they can get the points they can get and you see when we are losing home and that loss really was very bitter for me because not only the loss but how we lost the game without an effort without anything and this is not you are not losing against Manchester City you are losing against Newcastle United and there is no attempt they attempt on goal weak they are far apart it doesn't matter Ken finally for you which game will you be following this afternoon and your prediction for these matches today I think Spas and Chelsea have picked up heat over the years something will always happen we don't expect this to happen and also how both teams are on different trajectories at the moment Chelsea are not that good and Spas seem like they want to fly away with it I think it will be an interesting game Coach coming back to Soma Club a club that he has been part of uplifting it to the standards it is on right now I think it has a really good backstory to give a good game and it is coined as a derby I think it will be a good game I think Chelsea if there is a game that they can show that they can play with their new squad with their young players I think it is this game if they can be the first ones to stop Spas I think that will be really good but also now I can look at the United game it is the opportunity for them to also try and get back into the league you have to get to City City and Newcastle you have to get that easy game you at least get your 2-3 goals and you feel better but if you don't beat Fulham Dark Days ahead for United for you Eric, which game will be following and prediction? Arsenal Newcastle I think it will be a tough game apart from now the Chelsea one Arsenal Newcastle will be a tough game because it is games like this we will be able to tell people Arsenal serious contenters because if they come out with 3 points then they can start taking seriously because again why I am looking at that game Arsenal play a slick kind of football Newcastle are playing hard tackles so you see how can Arsenal respond to hard tackling opponents and if they can be able to rise to the occasion then we start taking them seriously as title contenters Eric Aganya thanks a lot for coming to talk about the Sakajesuka but today no time for fans but we will be doing that much more as we go on with the touch Ken Andrews thanks a lot for coming and for everyone who has made this production a success we say thank you good afternoon enjoy the rest of your viewing here on Y254 I am Robert Osoro this is the touch