Samburu youths trained as football referees,to use football to end communal rivalry – KBC

Nineteen youths from Samburu north constituency benefited from a three day referees training program that sought to equip them with professional sports management skills.

The training conducted by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Samburu chapter and funded by the Samburu north constituency National Government Constituency Development Fund NG-CDF imparted skills to youths drawn from the six wards of Samburu north ,a big scoop in capacity building in the region..

Samburu north NG-CDF chairman Wilson Leshore  emphasized the role of such trainings saying there was need to equip youth with professional referee skills .

“Lately the youths have been organising peace tournaments in Baragoi town and have been calling on leaders and well-wishers to support them, I believe the referees training will go a long way in improving soccer in Samburu north and enhance peace between the pastoral communities living here,” he said.

Bernard Lemako, a referee trainee from El-Barta ward noted the training will improve soccer tournaments in Samburu north and eventually even produce teams that will play in the Kenya Premier League.

“At the moment we are concentrating on peace tournaments that will promote cohesion among the two communities living in Samburu north because we believe the bandit mentality will be changed and forgotten through sports,” he said.

Referees instructor Francis Oliele encouraged Samburu youths to engage in sports saying that if one is dedicated it is a well-paying job like any other.

Samburu branch FKF secretary James Lolochum lauded Samburu north NG-CDF for their support towards sports development adding that talents can be found anywhere in the country as long as enough effort is put in nurturing them.

Lolochum added that during the training, the youths were taken through a Physical Endurance Test (PET) among other mental and psychological training then later be accredited referees.