By Antony Zoka
Ruruma football clubs in Rabai have called on the county government of Kilifi, to implement projects that were meant to engage youth safely on the field to shun increased drug abuse.
Led by Ruruma Football Clubs Association chairperson, Sylvester Chapwani, they claim that youth in the area are gradually turning to drug and substance abuse due to what he termed as blind eye by the authorities.
“As football community we have been actively involved in the public participation forum and raised our view on matters of playing fields and sports equipment, however nothing is happening on the ground.” Revealed Chapwani.
According to the chairperson, plans to have Ruruma Football Clubs benefiting from a total of 3.5 million equipment that were budgeted are yet to materialize.
Speaking during the launch of 23rd edition of Mazingira Tournament, Chapwani noted that poor condition of playing surfaces has resulted in many youths shunning football due to injuries sustained during training on their poorly surfaced playing ground.
Similar sentiments were shared by Usintate Fc’s organizing secretary, Julius Mulala, who noted that they were faced with playing their home matches away from home due to the poor state of their field.
Mulala has wondered why the county government is yet to make their dream of having Usintate ground in Jimba and Kasidi ground playable despite being budgeted in the financial year 2022/23 financial year.
“On 11th November, 2023, we received surveyors from the county government of Kilifi, who came and took measurements and promised to have the pitch levelled in two-month time, to our surprise its 12 month down the line without any further development.” He revealed.
According to Mulala, the have been forced to level the pitch by filling inn sacks of soil placing them in gullies to enable train as they prepare for their regional league to commence.
“Sports can be a good weapon to bring change in our community, unfortunately we don’t feel the impact of this department being devolved. The Ruruma community has donated land that can be developed into stadiums. But currently all teams in the FKF leagues are forced to use Mwanjama ground which is at least playable.” Revealed Mulala.
He said that residents fought to have their proposal to develop the land for sports use factored in the County Integrated Development Plan and ADP but no implementation.
Addressing the youth at Mwanjama, Ruruma ward Member of County Assembly, Naphtali Kombo, called on the sports community to unite and maintain standards in and out of the pitch.
Kombo maintained that he played his role of ensuring that the sports community have a budget for equipment and also to improve the fields of play.
According to the MCA, the Ruruma teams have been playing a key role in instilling discipline among the youth in the area, however he was quick to note that his efforts are yet to realize their intended impact.
“Ruruma ward has had a lion share of the budget in the department of youth and sports, and this was meant to ensure sports men and women have a good playing environment and equipment.” He said.
