Abraham Dawo Omondi was once a prolific marksman for FKF Premier League champions Kenya Police FC when the Law Enforcers did their time in the second tier.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsTasked with bagging goals for the then Charles Omondi-coached side, Dawo, full of promise, was a teenager whose future seemed well on course to replicating his elder brother Patrick Oboya’s footsteps.He, however, would see this through but instead chose the path of mentorship a few years later after brief stints with Kibera Black Stars, Mombasa Elite, Real Union (Spain) and Horseed in Somalia.New date for Kenya Police’s coronation against Gor MahiaA year now into managing his football academy, the lanky forward reveals what exactly happened in between.”I stepped away from the game earlier than many had expected. It wasn’t an easy decision. It was one I arrived at as a mixture of circumstances. I had a growing urge for mentorship and realised that I would do better helping others, especially the young players. I am really good with one-on-one sessions,’’ says Dawo, whose project is well on its way to hitting a hundred youth team players. I started small here in Kiambu, and within a few months, the number had ballooned.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977541##”The parents were encouraging, too. I see it as the beginning of another chapter, and I see myself as a footballpreneur because I am good at sports marketing. My time with Decathlon Kenya instilled these virtues in me, and I have seen my numbers and influence grow,” he adds.Dawo, alongside two other like-minded former footballers, started Kick To Victory Football Academy midway through last year and will be celebrating their first anniversary on the 28th of June.Targeting both boys and girls, the academy, based in Kiambu, offers coaching for categories starting from the U7s up to the U15s. Twelve months in and Dawo’s juniors have already made an impression in the junior league, their latest exploits being in the 2025 Bishop Cup.Mashemeji Derby rivalry at play as fans react to Kenya Police FC title triumph”What inspired two other directors and me to start the academy is the passion for the game. We wanted to scout for young talent and promote discipline, teamwork, and offer a safe place where both boys and girls can grow. We launched the academy last year, and at the moment, we have more than fifty players registered and a handful of coaches who help across all categories from U7 to U15.Our last competitive action was in the Bishop Cup, where our U13s and U11s won first place while U7s came second. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8977554##We also delved into soccer clinics and held one last year, and from it got more than ten partners to come on board because of the work we are doing,” continues Dawo, a CAF D licensed coach who still thirsts for more football knowledge.The junior national teams have recently recorded milestones in international competitions. From the U17 girls making their debut in the FIFA World Cup to the boys U20 dazzling in the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, the future senior team players have made an indelible mark in their categories, and Dawo knows it’s no coincidence.”This is a result of structured development. However, it is not enough, and there are areas that the federation as a whole can bolster for more numbers in international competitions. FKF responds to criticism from former CEO aspirantAs a country, we have a huge development gap in young players, mainly due to limited access to structured training, qualified coaches and proper facilities at the grassroots level. We have good talent and the number is increasing, as evident in the exploits of the U20 team that went to the AFCON and the U17 girls,” says Dawo, pointing out that there is, in fact, a need for more academies.”So we have the talent, just not a clear pathway for nurturing it consistently from a young age. To remedy this, we need stronger investment in youth academies, better coaching education and improved collaboration with academies and the federation. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8977558##The government and the corporate involvement should also be sought so as to unlock the full potential of the young players.”At just 24, the former junior international himself already has a CAF D licence under his belt as well as a Child Safeguarding Policy certification from FIFA.He is not done and has already established a football agency for talent representation, as he feels this is an area most footballers suffer through whenever they want to go full professional.Tusker striker Ryan Ogam opens up on how failed transfer deals affected him”I have a CAF D coaching licence and Child Safeguarding Policy training, which is organised by FIFA virtually. They have helped me understand the development and protection of young players. My goal is to progress further to CAF B as I also venture into the world of football agency and talent representation. In line with this, I have founded an agency, Path To Success, alongside three other like-minded individuals. We aim to help in sports development and mentorship, this not only includes on-the-field guidance but also empowerment off of it through proper guidance, exposure and career planning,” continues the former forward-turned coach, revealing that he might have been a casualty of a lack of proper representation during his playing days.##NAJAVA_MECA_8977560##”During my playing days, I didn’t have such an opportunity. We are, in fact, planning to take it to Spain next year, do a soccer clinic, and plans are already underway.”Dawo thinks the sporting world offers plenty of opportunities for former sportsmen if only they could broaden their perspective on what to specialise in.For most, he says, it is either playing or coaching the game. It is a limiting way to see it, he says, and a broader approach can see them bag lots of opportunities.‘I will humiliate my opponent’ – AFC Leopards chair aspirant Bonface Ambani”Most of us players, both former and current, only look at football in two ways: playing and coaching. But it’s much broader if you look keenly, from team doctors, football agents, media team, photography, and now the game is really growing. I encourage others that when they find that age is catching up, they should think outside the box from the very broad options available in the sporting world,” says the lad.A bright future lies ahead, he thinks. As the country approaches its deadline for Vision 2030, and with a new regime in place at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The next half a decade will usher in a flurry of improvements only with a complete mindset shift.##NAJAVA_MECA_54800##”We need to fully professionalise our football here in Kenya with a complete mindset shift and stronger structural reforms. One of the biggest steps is attracting and retaining serious investors. We have seen the support from Mozzart Bet with the domestic cup; this is the way to go. Five years from now, we’ll have reached our Vision 2030 as a country, and I would love to see Kenyan football operating on a strong, structured foundation with well-established youth development systems, transparent and good governance,” adds Dawo, saying he firmly believes the new FA will see to this.”With the new federation, I have a strong belief that they will change things for the better and also bolster the local league, which will attract both local and international investors.”Kenya U20 vice captain eying European move after several offers from AFCON performanceAs for the individual players, Dawo, an aspiring CAF B holder, only sees collective efforts between their respective clubs and third parties such as Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA), FKF and investors as the way of professionalising the local game and ensuring seamless transition into more advanced leagues abroad.”It is my wish for more players to transition from our local leagues to more advanced leagues abroad. I also envision an environment where grassroots academies are recognised, supported and integrated into the national talent pipeline where coaching, scouting and player welfare are taken care of. We need to use football as a tool for social, economic impact to transform lives and the communities at large. Proper contracts and a partnership with KEFWA regarding the welfare of players are key. Strengthening the grassroots will ensure talent is generated systematically and not by chance or guesswork. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8977544##The federation must also come in on some key areas like enforcing standard player rights,” adds Dawo.Even though admitting that most football clubs in the top flight and second tier in the country are trying to adhere fully to the CAF Club licensing requirements, more needs to be done regarding corporate involvement in the way of revenue generation, Dawo says.”Football clubs need to be transparent, accountable and commercialise the football environment. From the sale of merchandise, match day tickets, and the enforcement of loyalty programs, revenue can be generated. Gor Mahia star disheartened after Baba Dogo Grounds shuts out young talentsIf we can package football as a serious industry, it will open bigger doors to players, coaches and allow them to earn a living with dignity,” concludes the coach.
