FKF Partners with Bundesliga’s RB Leipzig to Launch Elite Youth Academy in Thika

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and German giants RB Leipzig unveiled the East Africa Football Excellence Centre in Thika on August 22, 2025—a KSh 650 million academy targeting boys and girls aged 12–18. The facility features two FIFA-approved pitches (natural & hybrid), video analysis suites, dormitories, and academic classrooms. Leipzig will send two full-time coaches and host annual talent camps, with top graduates trialing in Germany. Initial intake: 80 scholars (50% girls) from all 47 counties. This isn’t outsourcing talent—it’s building sustainable ecosystems, said FKF CEO Barry Otieno. The project is funded 60% by Leipzig, 30% by FKF, and 10% by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation. President Ruto called it a blueprint for sports diplomacy.