Over 600 teams have registered for the Machakos County Governors Cup which was launched on Sunday by Governor Wavinya Ndeti at the Liyuni Grounds in Kola ward.
The tournament targets teams from all 40 wards of Machakos County from the grassroots level.
At the ward level, 16 teams will compete for Sh 20,000, while at the sub-county level, winners will take home sh 200,000. The overall winner of the Governor Cup will get Sh 1 million.
Speaking during the launch of the tournament, Wavinya urged youth to shun drugs. e explained that sports remain a major mechanism to cultivate young people, mitigate youth restiveness, create jobs, and promote healthy living among citizens.
“Youth should steer clear of drugs as the consequences are devastating since it may easily lead to health problems, financial difficulties, violence, and crime,” she said.
She further added that during her pre-election campaigns, she made a promise that her Government will prioritize the development of youth talents and promote infrastructure for the sporting industry in Machakos.
“That promise, which forms part of my three-pillar transformation agenda, underscores my Government’s determination to exploit the opportunities presented by sports to create sources of employment opportunities for young people and develop our local economy,” she said
The governor stated that Machakos County will not take sports for granted or as an inferior alternative to white-collar employment”.
“As a devolved unit, our focus is to uplift and empower the youth through sports,” she said while pledging to build football pitches and other sporting facilities across the county as part of her administration’s efforts to boost sports development.
