Impact
Background
Legacy Football Academy was established to uplift underprivileged youth and vulnerable adults in Kenya’s most marginalized urban slums and refugee camps. The Academy initially focused on high need urban slums such as Korogocho, Mathare, Kawangware, Huruma, Baba Dogo, Githurai, Kibera, Majengo, Umoja, and Matopeni, and has expanded to include refugee camps in Kakuma, Daadab, and Turkana. These areas grapple with pervasive issues such as poverty, unemployment, crime, and lack of access to education and sports.
Through football, Legacy Football Academy addresses these challenges by providing pathways to education, life skills, and sustainable employment. The growing demand for the Academy’s model led to regional partnerships, enabling operations in over 27 counties across Kenya. Rather than being
limited urban slums, Legacy collaborates with several schools, development clubs, and junior academies in 27 counties in Kenya. This extensive network has expanded the program’s capacity to reach over 8,000+ vulnerable youth and 200+ coaches annually.
Impact
Participants engage in structured football training, complemented by educational scholarships that ensure access to quality schooling. This dual focus on athletic and academic development helps break the cycle of poverty, creating opportunities for success both on and off the field. The Academy also empowers over 200 vulnerable adults annually, focusing on developing coaches and mentors. Those demonstrating leadership potential receive academic certifications and advanced training, positioning them for professional opportunities. This initiative not only secures sustainable employment for coaches but also equips them to mentor youth, fostering leadership and discipline within their communities.
Among Legacy’s standout participants, three players have earned spots on the Kenya U20 National Team, and our coaches alumni have been empowered, including Mildred Cheche, head coach of the U20 National Team, and Stanley Okumbi, the Academy’s founder and technical director, both of whom are leading the team in the 2024 World Cup. Their achievements highlight Legacy’s role in enriching Kenyan football and providing life-changing opportunities for vulnerable adults.
Impact
Problem Statement
The absence of supportive infrastructure, including access to sports equipment and coaching, further exacerbates these issues. Many talented young athletes remain undiscovered, missing opportunities to excel both in sports and education. Without adequate resources and capacity-building programs for coaches, the sustainability of sports initiatives is jeopardized, diminishing their potential for long-term impact.
Vulnerable Youth
Children in Kenya’s urban slums, refugee camps, and rural areas lack access to quality education, recreational activities, and safe spaces, leaving them vulnerable to drug abuse, gang involvement, and early pregnancies. Despite Kenya’s reputation as a football talent hub, many young players are trapped in poverty without proper training, equipment, or education. Limited scouting opportunities and underdeveloped football programs, especially in rural areas, leave many talented youth overlooked and without chances for social mobility.
Football Stakeholders
Football academies in Kenya’s urban slums and rural areas are critically under-resourced, lacking equipment, facilities, and financial support. Coaches and players have limited access to quality training, professional development, and scouting platforms. Without a national football development system, there is no clear pathway for talent identification or professional growth, leaving many promising players overlooked. The lack of coordination among academies further hinders the country from fully realizing its football potential.
Football Stakeholders
Football academies in Kenya’s urban slums and rural areas are critically under-resourced, lacking equipment, facilities, and financial support. Coaches and players have limited access to quality training, professional development, and scouting platforms. Without a national football development system, there is no clear pathway for talent identification or professional growth, leaving many promising players overlooked. The lack of coordination among academies further hinders the country from fully realizing its football potential.
Regional Expansion and Legacy’s Role
Legacy Football Academy has expanded to 27+ counties in Kenya, partnering with regional academies, schools, and development clubs to foster football talent development. Engaging over 8,000 youth and 200 coaches annually, the Academy provides structured training, education, and mentorship to vulnerable children in urban slums, refugee camps, and rural areas. These partnerships support talent scouting, distribute football equipment, and enhance the skills of local coaches. By nurturing talent in underserved regions and empowering coaches to build sustainable careers, Legacy ensures Kenya's football potential is realized.
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Youth Impact
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Coaches Empowered
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Awards
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Expanding Reach
Changing Lives
Stories of Transformation
Empowering Vulnerable Youth:
· 5,000+ youth from marginalized urban slums and rural areas engage in structured and empowering football activities annually. · Over 350 students were awarded football scholarships, providing education and career development pathways. Football serves as an outlet for youth at risk of drug abuse, gang involvement, and early pregnancies, offering them purpose and hope for a brighter future.
Scholarships and Education:
· The Academy integrates football and education, ensuring talented players continue their studies while pursuing football, breaking the cycle of poverty for marginalized families. · Scholarship recipients often become role models, inspiring younger generations to pursue education and football.
Success Story
Legacy’s Life Skills Training Alumni
Samuel Muringu
Another shining example of Legacy Football Academy’s impact is Samuel Muringu, an alumnus of the Academy's life skills training program. Muringu was sponsored by Legacy to attend ICT training, which opened up a new career path for him in media and technology. Today, Muringu is the lead videographer and analyst for the Kenyan U17 Women’s World Cup team, pivotal in the team’s preparation and success.
Muringu’s dedication to his craft and his commitment to the Legacy philosophy of giving back is evident in his work. Not only has he excelled as a videographer, but he has also taken it upon himself to train more young people, particularly girls, in media and ICT. Through his efforts, Muringu is helping to expand opportunities for youth in sectors beyond football, showing the multifaceted impact of Legacy’s life skills training programs. His success demonstrates how the Academy’s focus on personal development and education can lead to sustainable employment and contribute to the wider community.
Success Story
A Trailblazing Leader in Kenyan Football
Mildred Cheche
Pioneering Female Coach: Mildred Cheche is the first ever female coach to lead a team—the Kenya National U-17—to the 2024 World Cup and is currently serving as the Assistant Coach of the Kenya National Team.
Global Recognition: Cheche has an impressive track record. She was the Head Coach for the MYSA U14 girls' team, representing Kenya in the 2019 Norway Cup, and has earned numerous international accolades. These include a certificate of participation in football development from the Czech Republic and a certificate of excellence in the Kenyan-American Exchange Program in the USA. Additionally, she received acknowledgment from the State of Delaware, Washington, USA, for her outstanding contributions to football development.
Trainer of Trainers: As a certified trainer of trainers, Cheche has become a role model, taking Kenya to the World Cup and demonstrating the immense value of investing in underprivileged youth. She is not only committed to football excellence but also to mentoring young girls, empowering them to reach new heights in the sport.