by Naftali Mwaura
NAIROBI, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tobias Omondi proudly displayed his yellow jersey at the edge of a soccer field in Nairobi's Mathare slums on Saturday afternoon where his team had earlier squared it out with a highly competitive rival.
Despite losing by one goal during the friendly tournament, Omondi and his playmates chose to lift their spirits having put a strong defense that won accolades from spectators.
The 15-year-old grade seven pupil has already enrolled in a soccer training program supported by Chinese volunteers affiliated with the charity group, Dream Building Service Association (DBSA).
Omondi's prowess as a defender became clear when his school's U-15 soccer team played a friendly match with their peers in the neighborhood during this year's DBSA Mathare talent show that covered football tournaments as well as performing and visual arts.
"The match was competitive and stretched our stamina to the limit but we are glad that our rivals only managed to defeat us with one goal," said Omondi.
We are grateful for the school principal and Chinese volunteers who provided us with a coach to train us ahead of the tournament," he added.
Born and raised in the sprawling Mathare slums, Omondi was inspired by his elder brother to take up soccer at a tender age and has in the last couple of months benefitted from DBSA mentorship program to help improve his skills.
Omondi's Changrong primary school that is located at the heart of one of the largest slums in Nairobi was constructed by Chinese volunteers.
The youngster said the soccer training program has improved his skills as a defender and he is convinced that a chance to play for major leagues in the country and beyond is beckoning.
"I feel confident of becoming an accomplished defender after high school now that I have undergone rigorous training and participated in several tournaments within Mathare slums supported by DBSA," said Omondi.
This year's edition of DBSA Mathare talent show was a culmination of training and mentorship to enable the youngsters from the expansive informal settlement showcase their prowess in soccer, music, dance, painting and drawings.
Pan Yangmengrou, a sports business major who was part of the organizing team, said the two friendly matches that were played at the beginning of the talent show, raised the bar in terms of skills, resilience and team spirit.
"The young players are very talented and I was impressed by the team work they displayed during the matches," said Pan.
So far, it has been inspiring to observe the determination of the young players to excel in football despite their humble backgrounds," she added.
Pan said that volunteers affiliated with DBSA have identified talented young footballers from schools in Mathare slums and linked them up with local coaches for advanced training and mentorship.
"We have selected the best players and provided them with coaches who train them on regular basis. These players are excelling and have developed a positive attitude towards life," said Pan.
Dickson Owaga, the principal of Destiny Community School that is a beneficiary of DBSA talent development program, said that coaching and mentorship has encouraged his pupils to take up soccer with gusto.
"We have many pupils who were recruited in the DBSA soccer mentorship program and they are behind our impressive performance during friendly tournaments early this month where we won the trophy," said Owaga.
He said that participation in soccer tournaments has impacted positively on the value systems of the young pupils whose passion for studies and community service has gone up.
"Even the parents of pupils who have embraced soccer and other extra curriculum activities have conveyed messages of appreciation after witnessing them become more disciplined, hardworking and caring," said Owago.
Granton Ouma, a 13-year-old grade seven pupil from Mathare's Changrong primary school who was a goalkeeper during the friendly tournament, said that he feels motivated to embrace the game thanks to training from experienced coaches.
"The trainings in and out of school have been helpful and that is why we gave our best during today's tournament," said Ouma.
It was an honor to participate in the match that gave us a platform to prove our potential. The match also brought us together," he added.
Paul Onyach, a 29-year-old football coach and a principal in one of the schools that are enlisted in DBSA talent development program, said that pupils who have taken up soccer have become an inspiration to their peers in a neighborhood that is synonymous with social ills like violent crime and drug abuse.
"Having coached some of these young footballers in the last three years, I can say with authority that I have witnessed positive changes in their lives," said Onyach.
The children are well behaved and committed to their studies having realized that education combined with talent can transform their lives," he added.
