Ababu Namwamba calls on FKF to establish pension plan for retired players

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has urged the Football Kenya Federation to develop a pension plan to chip into caring for retired footballers just like Athletics Kenya, who have a similar package for athletes.

The Cabinet Secretary was speaking during the launch of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation's (KBC) partnership with FKF, which will see the national broadcaster beam free-to-air FKF Premier League matches for seven years alongside Azam who are the official broadcasting partners.

Namwamba was moved after meeting former AFC Leopards midfielder Ezekiel Otuoma, who has been ailing for quite a time now, at the Nyayo National Stadium during the Harambee Starlets stalemate against Botswana and has challenged the football governing body in the country to come up with measures of sustaining such players once they hung their boots.

“As part of that (Talanta Hela) program, we have agreed with many federations, not just the Kenya Football Federation, to come up with a pension scheme for retired players,” offered Namwamba.

“Early this morning (Thursday), I had a ceremony with Athletics Kenya where we were launching Africa’s first-ever pension scheme for athletes and the endowment fund for retired athletes.

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“It is part of this program and we have put in significant money in both programs. Pension schemes and endowment funds. The next thing I want to see yesterday after watching our Harambee Starlets at Nyayo, you and I ran into former player Otuoma, who has been put down by a nervous generative condition.

“What arrangement do we have when we lose players like Otuoma at his prime and run into challenges such as afflicting that young man?”

“I want to come to another ceremony like I have done with Athletics Kenya to launch a pension fund and an endowment fund for retired footballers.” He concluded.

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Namwamba also pointed out the national government's commitment to deliberate, intentional, and focus on transforming sports

“Never in the history of this country have we had a Gov't that is so deliberate, intentional, and focused on transforming sports.”

Kenya players over time have been running to The Kenya Footballers’ Welfare Association (KEFWA) which was fully constituted to cater to and advocate for players' welfare’ but a minimal number of the jugglers have got help from the body headed by former Kenyan International James Situma.