List Of Football Academies In Kenya

One the years, Kenya has not been successful in international competitions like the FIFA World and African Cup of Nations. However, the country enjoys a thriving domestic football scene. It has also raised many prominent football football stars who play for some of the world’s big clubs.

Most football players in Kenya are homegrown talent. In this article, we will look at the various football academies in Kenya.

1. Express Soccer Academy

Express Soccer Academy is located in Nairobi, Kenya, prominent as one of the best academies nurturing talents. Established 2011, the club is aimed at scouting and developing young players into professionals.

Express Soccer Academy team at the East Africa Tournament — *Express Soccer Academy team. Image: X/ExpresssoccerKe*

Express Soccer Academy welcomes players between the ages of 5 and 19. It offers two football training programs:

A school-based program – one or two after-school training sessions at the Hillcrest School and The Banda School in Nairobi.
A weekend training program – Saturday and Sunday sessions at the Hillcrest Pre-school grounds in Nairobi.

Joining a football academy in Kenya comes with some fees. Express Soccer Academy offers packages depending on a player’s training interest. These include:

Ksh 8,500 per term for one training session on the weekends
Ksh 12,500 per term for two training sessions on the weekends
Ksh 12,500 per term for school-based and Saturday training sessions
Ksh 1,500 hourly for private player training sessions

2. Liberty Sports Academy

Michael Olunga training the Liberty Sports Academy team — *Michael Olunga is a notable alumni of Liberty Sports Academy. Image: X/ OgadaOlunga*

Liberty Sports Academy is based in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 2008 by Alhaji Sly, an Accra-based businessman.

Since its inception, it has become one of the best football academies in Kenya. The academy competes at the Football Kenya Federation’s National Division 1 League (Zone A).

The clash for Liberty Sports Academy is Jacob “Ghost” Mulee, the former Harambee Stars’ head coach. The academy has produced stars like Michael Olunga, the Kenyan National Football Team striker who plays club football at Al-Duhail SC in Qatar.

3. Uweza Soccer Academy

Uweza Soccer Academy Uweza Women Youth when they played against Dagoretti — *Uweza Soccer Academy. Image: Facebook/Uweza Soccer Academy*

This academy is a community-based organization in Kibera, Nairobi. The academy was established in 2007 by a group of boys from a children’s home in Kibera.

Uweza Academy comes with a training program for youth teams in the Kibera area: under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, and under-16 boys and under-12 and under-16 girls.

It has senior men’s and women’s teams that participate at the FKF Nairobi’s regional leagues. Apart from football coaching, the academy offers vocational training services for the youths.

Additionally it provides a safe environment for youths in Kibera, for meeting, socializing, and playing away from drugs, crime, and other vices in the slum area.

4. Inspire Soka Academy

Inspire Soka Academy team when they received boots from Kick off to Hope-Kenya — *Inspire Soka Academy team players receiving boots from Kick Off To Hope – Kenya. Image: X/InspireSoka*

Inspire Soka Academy is a football academy in Kahawa Sukari, Ruiru, Kenya. It was founded by James Situma, a former Kenya National Football Team player. The academy provides football coaching to young boys and girls aged 5 to 15.

The academy has given birth to players who join clubs playing in regional leagues nationwide, with some winning football scholarships to top secondary schools.

The academy conducts trials for rising footballers passionate about football.

5. Ujuzisoka Academy

Ujuzisoka Academy team poses for a picture at a pitch — *Ujuzisoka Academy. Image: Facebook/Ujuzi Michezo Kenya*

Ujuzisoka is a football academy located in Nairobi, Kenya. It offers talent development and coaching to young players in the age range of 5 to 20. The academy plays friendly matches and local and international tournaments and competitions.

The academy has raised big players including:

Ayub Timbe – Plays for the Kenya National Team and Nanjing City FC in China at the club level.
Humphry Mieno – A Kenya National Football Team and Tusker FC player.
Toni Nyaoga – A Kenya National Football Team star.

Ujuzisoka Academy carries out training sessions at the Parklands Sports Club. There is a monthly registration fee of ksh3,500.

6. JMJ Soccer Academy

Victor Wanyama pointing a finger at a stadium — *Victor Wanyama went from an academy player at JMJ soccer academy to playing in the EPL for Tottenham and Southampton. Image: Instagram/victorwanyama*

The academy is located in Nairobi West, Nairobi, Kenya. It offers coaching and talent development services to young players aged 5 to 18. JMJ has produced many professional footballers, notably Victor Wanyama, the Kenya National Football Team star who became the first Kenyan to play in England’s Premier League.

Other products of the academy include Johana Omolo, Edward Otieno Aluoch, Ayub Timbe, and Johanna Omolo.

7. Ligi Ndogo Soccer Academy

Ligi Ndogo Soccer Academy team — *Ligi Ndogo Soccer Academy, which produced the likes of Humphrey Mieno and Swedish star John Guidetti. Image: Facebook/Ligi Ndogo S.C.*

Ligi Ndogo Soccer Academy is a soccer school based in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 2002 to nurture young football talent.

At the academy, young boys and girls aged 4 to 20 years are nurtured. It also has a senior side, Ligi Ndogo SC, playing in the second division of the Kenyan football league system.

Ligi Ndogo Academy comes with after-school (weekdays) and weekend training sessions.

It charges Ksh12,000 every school term for the after-school program and ksh15,000 for the combined after-school and weekend coaching.

8. Galaxy Football Academy

Galaxy Football Academy is located in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, offering football training to young boys and girls in under-5, under-7, under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15, and under-17. There is a monthly training fee of Ksh4,000.

The academy offers training sessions both during weekdays and on the weekends.

9. Cheza Sports Academy

Cheza Sports Academy team celebrating — *Cheza Sports Academy. Image: Facebook/Cheza Sports*

Cheza Sports Academy is a community-based organization in South B, Nairobi. It offers football coaching services. Established in 2013, the academy aims at empowering Nairobi’s youth through football.

It provides coaching and development services to youths between the ages of 4 and 23. It also has a senior side, playing in the Nairobi West Sub County League.

Cheza Sports Academy is said to charge a registration fee of Ksh10,500, which includes coaching services and training kits.

10. Friendship International Sports Academy (FISA)

Ibrahim Kitawi smiling — *Ibrahim Kitawi and Paul Were are graduates of Friendship International Sports Academy. Image: X/k_sharksfc*

This is one of the top soccer academies in Nairobi, established in 2006. The academy to develops football talent from low-economic neighbourhoods in Nairobi.

Apart from, the academy offers life skills training to youth players to sensitize them against vices like crime, drugs, and harmful sexual behaviours. FISA academy provides training for youth players in Under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, under-18, and under-23.

The academy gave birth to professionals like Ibrahim Kitawi, Musa Mohammed, Paul Were, and Kevin Omondi, who have played for the Kenya National Team and various Kenyan Premier League clubs.