This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
As the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One football league prepares to kick off on October 12, it's hard to find teams and players taking part in the country's third-tier league.
Despite the excitement of the upcoming season, the Division One League remains in the shadows of the more illustrious Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and National Super League (NSL).
One of the main reasons for this is the lack of television coverage for the matches, making it difficult for players to get noticed by talent scouts and potentially scouted into the higher leagues.
At Nyakiamo grounds in Sori, Migori County, Omondi Aol, the head coach of newly-promoted Division One League team Sindo United, is aware of the challenges his team will face in their maiden season.
“Lack of exposure through live television broadcast of matches remains one of the biggest hindrances to talent development in this league,” Aol said, adding that many players give up on the game within a few years due to the lack of hope of ever making it in football.
Financial challenges are also a major issue for many Division One League teams, with fans urging FKF to review the rule requiring teams to pay allowances for referees handling their games.
Luckily for Sindo, the club has sponsorship from the Jefferson Group, which helps it pay players training and winning bonuses.
With the competition for the three slots available in the NSL for promoted teams expected to be tough, Sindo's CEO Vin Kisuga is confident that his team is capable of winning a spot.
