Vihiga: A delegation of international football figures on Monday paid a courtesy call on Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo. The visit came following the signing of a landmark partnership with Madira Soccer Assassins, a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women Premier League side based in the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the visiting team includes David Clarke, CEO of Football For Life and former Manchester City player; Marti Torres, Head of New Hera International and former Barcelona youth coach; and Laureen Sausselmen, former Canadian international and Olympic bronze medallist. The delegation is on a three-day official tour of Vihiga to explore avenues for bolstering women's football development in the region.
Speaking at the county headquarters, Governor Ottichilo congratulated Madira Soccer Assassins on their recent victory in the 2024/2025 Women National Super League and praised the club's successful kit launch and resource mobilisation event held in Nairobi on July 12. He described the partnership as a significant step towards transforming Vihiga into a hub for talent and opportunity in women's football and expressed commitment to supporting initiatives that empower youth and position the county as a national and international sporting destination.
The governor urged the club's management to collaborate with the County Sports Department to develop a strategic plan for sustainable success. He also announced plans to enhance sports infrastructure across the county, focusing on upgrading training grounds and expanding talent development programmes, particularly for girls and women.
Dr. Ottichilo highlighted the importance of commercialising the local sports sector and encouraged other clubs to emulate Madira Soccer Assassins by seeking impactful partnerships and innovative funding models. To formalise the collaboration, he directed the Department of Sports to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the visiting organisations to outline a shared vision and framework for long-term cooperation.
The meeting was attended by Acting Chief Officer for Youth and Sports Dominic Luvavo, Director Bongo Ngoseywi, and Assistant Director for Sports Greg Jevunya. Distinguished guests included Aron Striger from Netflix, Madira Soccer Assassins Director Alex Alumira, and the team's Chairman Dr. Fredrick Mavisi, who also serves as the MCA for Lugaga Wamuluma Ward.