Every Kenyan footballer started somewhere — a dusty pitch in a Nairobi estate, a school field in Western Kenya, a community tournament in the Coast region. Grassroots football is the foundation of everything, and the Jamhuri Kenya Sports Excellence Awards has dedicated multiple categories to honouring the people and organisations that make it happen.
Grassroots Categories
- Most Impactful Youth / Grassroots Coach (Male & Female) — for coaches working at the community and youth level.
- Most Impactful Community Club of the Year — for clubs that serve their communities beyond just football.
- Most Impactful Football Academy of the Year — for academies developing young talent.
- Most Impactful School Football Programme of the Year — for schools running outstanding football programmes.
- Most Impactful Grassroots Football Initiative of the Year — for programmes, tournaments, and initiatives at the grassroots level.
- Most Impactful Kid Footballer of the Year — for the youngest stars.
- Most Impactful Kid Football Talent to Watch of the Year — for the next generation.
The People Behind the Scenes
Grassroots football does not run itself. It needs administrators, kit managers, medical volunteers, safeguarding officers, and team managers. The Governance group has specific categories for all of these roles — recognising that the person who organises the transport to away matches is just as important as the person who scores the winning goal.
How to Nominate
If you know a grassroots coach, community club, school programme, or youth initiative that deserves recognition, nominate them now. The Jamhuri Sports Excellence Awards is about celebrating impact at every level — and grassroots is where the biggest impact happens.