by Agnes Amondi

The stoppage of sporting activities across the country has forced some
of Kenya’s local athletes to rethink about a variety of issues, key
among them their sources of income.

A survey conducted by Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA)
between April 11 and May 6 that sampled 136 players across different
leagues; Kenya Premier League, FKF Women’s Premier League, National
Super League, National Division One, the lower tiers and coaches and
referees, revealed that:

Only 22% of the players have other alternative sources of income. The
other 78% rely on their clubs wages, allowances and bonuses. However,
the report states that this is changing.

“Players are slowly realising the need for an extra source of income
outside football. This has pushed some of them into taking new
activities like farming, online writing and work within their
communities.” the report stated.

Some of the activities that footballers get involved in, for men
include: graffiti, selling shoes, coaching kids, businesses amongst
others while amongst women is hairdressing, matatu industry, selling
vegetables, and other businesses.

The survey further indicates that most players have turned to online
platforms for financial, psychological and training assistance due to
lack of adequate support from their unions. Only 40% of them have
reached out to their players for training on COVID-19, 38% for
psychological support and 38% for financial support.

As far as training and physical fitness is concerned, more than half
of the clubs have not provided a training session for its players.
That as 65% of players say they’ll like to receive a training guide.

“Even though most players lack access to training sessions from their
clubs, they do not mind getting assistance as they have access to
online forms of communication like whatsapp and live access
platforms.”

Some of the challenges they are facing include: limited space, lack of
equipment, it’s difficult to train in solitary, little or lack of
motivation amongst others.

“Most players are hoping to resume their football training after the
pandemic and are

therefore trying to work-out from home, to keep their physical
fitness, however they are inconsistent due to lack of motivation since
they are doing it on their own.”

Other areas of interest for players are: sports development, economic
empowerment, training on contracts, business canvas, injury
management, livelihood training,doping, menstrual health hygiene, and
mental training.