Ottamax tells KPL clubs to embrace youth academies

Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Mathews Ottamax says Kenyan clubs must incorporate youth academies in their structures in order to improve the local game.

Ottamax called out Gor Mahia FC and AFC Leopards, two of the country’s most successful clubs, for having ‘plastic’ academies as he slammed them for over-relying on foreign talent.

The 44-year-old picked out Kariobangi Sharks as the most outstanding Kenyan Premier League (KPL) club in terms of the amount of investment put into youth academies.

Ottamax said encouraging top clubs to embrace player development as opposed to buying talent will also translate to the success of the national team in the long run.

“When you get EPL(English Premier League) having a player like (Paul) Pogba and French players, they do that after these players have played and matured in football when playing in their own countries before they go for an outside exposure in bigger clubs. Here in Kenya we don’t have many reliable youth centres, we don’t have academies,” he said.

Ottamax resigned as keeper trainer at Leopards last year and has since joined the entertainment industry as brabd ambassador for 40 Forty Lounge.