Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and two-time New York City Marathon champion Tegla Loroupe have joined forces in a new initiative aimed at unearthing and nurturing sporting talent from Nairobi’s informal settlements.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe Ferdinand Omanyala Foundation has partnered with the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation to stage the inaugural Nairobi Sports Festival, a two-day multi-sport event scheduled for 20-21 November at the University of Nairobi Sports Ground.The festival, which will coincide with World Children’s Day, is expected to attract between 3,000 and 3,500 children, young people, and community members from across Nairobi.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945649##Beyond the numbers and the wide range of sporting activities lined up, the organizers have a bigger objective: identifying talented young people in communities where sporting ability often goes unnoticed and connecting them with opportunities to develop.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Omanyala stressed that talent should never be determined by where someone grows up.“I have always believed that talent exists everywhere in this country. It is not limited to certain neighborhoods, schools, or communities. What is often missing is the opportunity for that talent to be seen, nurtured, and given a chance to grow,” he said.“There are many talented young people in Nairobi’s informal settlements who may never have had the opportunity to compete on a big platform or have their abilities recognized. Through this festival, we want to go into these communities, find that talent, and give these young athletes a stage to show what they are capable of,” he added.Wanyonyi the man to beat in loaded Ultimate Championship showdownThe festival will bring together athletes and teams from informal settlements alongside professionals, universities, and public and private schools across several disciplines.Football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, cycling, and tennis will feature on the program, alongside outdoor board games, family activities, and a CEO's/corporate challenge.For the organizers, though, identifying talent will only be the first step.“Discovering talent is only the beginning. We want to connect these young people to pathways that can change their lives, whether through sport, education, mentorship, or other opportunities that can help them realize their potential,” Omanyala added.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945630##One of the festival’s intriguing features will be an opportunity for winners of the informal-settlement competitions to face professional sides in marquee showcase matches.The encounters are designed to give grassroots talent an opportunity to test themselves against established opposition while providing them with a bigger platform to demonstrate their ability.For Loroupe, the initiative is rooted in the belief that every child deserves an opportunity to discover how far their ability can take them, regardless of their background.“Every child, no matter which neighborhood they were born into, deserves a stage to show what they can do. This festival is about giving that stage to the children of Nairobi’s informal settlements and standing with them on a day the world sets aside for children everywhere,” Loroupe said.Why Lilian Odira will miss World Athletic's Ultimate ChampionshipThe partnership between the two foundations therefore places opportunity at the center of the festival.Rather than simply bringing young people together for a weekend of competition, the organizers intend to use sport as a vehicle for identifying potential and creating longer-term pathways.Second Kenyan marathoner banned for doping in six daysThe festival also aims to raise funds for a year-round sport-for-development and welfare program serving communities in Nairobi’s informal settlements.It will additionally provide a platform to highlight child rights, protection, and participation in line with the spirit of World Children’s Day.
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