Raila to partner SA soccer legend Sono in Kenya

The face of Kenyan football could yet take a new shift after South African legend and football administrator Jomo Sono announced plans to expand his multi-national soccer industry into the country.

Sono, who led South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, was in the capital Nairobi with ODM leader Raila Odinga where he underlined intentions to launch a soccer academy.

The Jomo Cosmos owner, formally known as Ephraim Matsilela Sono, also revealed he is in talks to buy an unnamed club from the second-tier National Super League (NSL) with a partnership with Mr Odinga in the offing.

Jomo was hosted in Nairobi by Mr Odinga, the Gor Mahia FC patron and avid football fan, where the two discussed ways to improve the Kenyan sport with focus on youth programmes.

In a statement, the former Prime Minister said Sono is in the country to help develop and discover football talents especially from the grassroots level.

“Jomo has the skills in discovering football talents. Phil Masinga, Helman Mkhalele, Mark Fish of Bafana Bafana were some of his recruits,it is in that capacity as a potential investor in Kenya soccer that I welcome him to the country. We must urgently address the issue of poor youth development in our country.”

Mr Odinga highlighted Africa’s struggles at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia where no country from the continent progressed beyond the group stages for the first time since 1982.

“The weak coffers have prevented us from sending our teams overseas more often for top level exposure,our soccer managers must presnt us with solid plans for raising money for our game.We need improvement in nearly all departments and in Jomo we see some big plans for this nation,we cannpt afford to be bundled out at group stages next world cup.”added Odinga.

Raila has revealed that the pair met recently in South Africa and after expressing his ambitions to develop Kenyan football, saying he was happy to help Sono discover a path into the Kenyan industry.

“Centres of excellence must now go from being just empty, they must sprout everywhere. Football now needs to be a co-curricular,not extra-curricular activity,” Mr Odinga added.

In December 2016, Sono received two doctorates from the University of London and the University of Dubai for his contribution to football and was voted 49th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.