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FKF presidential aspirant Taufiq Balala has shared the challenges in Kenyan football that led to his son quitting the sport despite receiving a life-changing opportunity
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Taufiq Balala has opened up about a deeply personal story that sheds light on the challenges faced by young football talents in the country.
Balala, a prominent Mombasa-based businessman, has shared how his own son's dreams of a football career were dashed by the daunting obstacles that aspiring players from outside Nairobi often face.
"Back in 2013, my 14-year-old son Adil Balala won the best player award in the Mombasa school league, following in the footsteps of renowned Kenyan footballer Vic Wanyama. However, he eventually stopped playing football when he realized that the journey to top-flight Kenyan football held too many obstacles for a boy from Mombasa and outside Nairobi," he posted on X.
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Despite his affiliation as the patron of Mvita Young Stars, Balala has refrained from placing blame solely on the current regime for the turmoil in Kenyan football.
Instead, he believes that the issues plaguing the sport date back three decades, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive overhaul and a fresh start.
“The mess we have in Kenyan football is not because of Nick (Mwendwa) or the past three regimes," Balala asserted in a recent interview.
"The mess we find ourselves in started way back 30 years ago, and the only problem we have is that whoever has been in charge of the federation has failed to clean the mess by starting afresh."
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Balala's candid approach to addressing the long-standing issues in Kenyan football has resonated with many, and it comes at a time when the FKF is gearing up for elections set to take place in February 2024.
Among the notable individuals who have expressed interest in the FKF presidency alongside Balala are former FKF president Sam Nyamweya, former player Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino, former NEC member Tom Alila, Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed, Bandari official Twaha Mbarak, ex-CECAFA boss Nicholas Musonye, and Gor Mahia CEO Sam Ocholla.
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