Football academies and schools are spending millions of shillings each year in a bid to expose their players to good facilities and coaching in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsEvery year, at least Sh.100 million is forked out by these institutions with more than 200 players taking the tours.In the last five years alone, more than Sh.500 million has been spent in these destinations, enriching local embassies, insurance companies, airlines, hotels and other service providers.Charlton manager provides worrying update after Collins Sichenje suffers debilitating injuryThe summer holiday is turning out to be the most popular times for such sports tourism as this is the time academies and schools are on long holiday and can find time to travel.And parents are paying top dollar to fund the exercise, with every single trip costing at least Sh.503, 000 per child.According to Alfred Aguko, the proprietor of Turn Pro Academy, formed in 2023, they have so far taken 32 players to Europe since inception.##NAJAVA_MECA_9921712##According to Aguko, each parent pays at least Sh.1.4million for their child to travel to Europe.“One of the reasons parents prefer to take these trips is because of the weak coaching standards in Kenya. Everyone is dependent on Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to get a coaching badge, and some take just one week or even one month, and that is not enough to successfully equip a player. We live in an open world, and parents know value when they see one,” he said.Another factor that makes these destinations popular is the good and existing infrastructure, an area that Kenya is sorely lacking in at the moment.TACTICAL ANALYSIS: A look at Harambee Stars forward's impressive maiden start against Real Madrid“There are many opportunities abroad as they treat sports as a career and not just a hobby as we do here in Kenya. We are too dependent on education and look at sports as a pastime. Not so in Europe,” he added.To change the situation, Aguko believes a change in the current education policy is inevitable. “We need to have a system where sports and education can co-exist. We must also invest in infrastructure and seek co-operation with overseas clubs.”Spain remains one of the most popular destinations for local sides. This year alone, more than 100 children have travelled to Spain for sports tourism, and another 50 are scheduled to travel in November.##NAJAVA_MECA_9921718##Brookside International School sent 50 students to Barcelona in July. Merishaw School also sent another 53 to the same program.Sokaschool Kenya, owned by Dennis Opiyo, had another 30 students travelling to Barcelona for the same program. According to Opiyo, he charges Sh.500,000 per student to travel to Spain, and the money covers flights, accommodation, visas and participation in training camps.Apart from Spain, England, due to the popularity of the English Premier League (EPL), is also another popular destination for sports tourism.Gor Mahia handed double injury boost as influential duo return to trainingThis month, Kitengela International School sent a group of 23 students for a training camp that also included a number of friendly matches and a tour of the London, Emirates and Tottenham Hotspur stadia.Germany is also turning out to be a popular destination with Ujuzi Academy travelling there every year.Previously, the Gothia Cup held in Sweden used to be the most popular destination for Kenyan clubs in need of international exposure, but the interest has waned as other European destinations open up their facilities for local teams.##NAJAVA_MECA_9921704##Kenyan academies are also increasingly turning to Dubai, with a group of 53 students expected to attend a training camp in the country in December. The camp is organised by Sokaschool for the second year running.Sos Lukio, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Knuckleball Sports Group based in the United Kingdom, said that access to better facilities and coaching is fueling these attractions.Lukio’s company are the ones who hosted Kitengela International during their recent tour in London.Sichenje reveals how Ouma arrival has eased Charlton adaptation“There are always opportunities for African players during such camps. For example, during the recent tour, we had scouts from Portsmouth, Chelsea and Bournemouth. English clubs are taking a keen interest in African players and have been recruiting heavily from the continent over the last two years,” he added.Lukio further added that British history and culture remain another attraction to visiting Kenyan sides.
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