Table of Contents
- Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA) isn’t just a legacy project, but a platform that will help many generations
- Olunga, a former striker for Gor Mahia and Al Arabi SC player conceptualised his MOFA dream in 2019
- It will give young talents from the grassroots an opportunity to perfect their football skills and elevate local Kenyan football
Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA) isn’t just a legacy project, but a platform that will help many generations to come.
Olunga, a former striker for Gor Mahia and Al Arabi SC player in the Middle East, conceptualised his MOFA dream in 2019. Six years later, the dream is becoming a reality as construction works continue at the complex.
He says that he will finally live for something meaningful once the academy’s construction is complete.
It will give young talents from the grassroots an opportunity to perfect their football skills and elevate local Kenyan football.
He believes nurturing young football talents gives Kenya an opportunity for its players to play internationally, just like him.
Why is Michael Olunga Football Academy Special?
This project will be implemented in phases. It’s currently involving schools in discovering and growing these talents.
Here are some of the features that make the Michael Olunga Football Academy Special.
Although football is his main area of focus, MOFA will feature modern tennis and basketball courts to support talented players in both disciplines.
Kenyan international Michael Olunga at the Michael Olunga Football Academy.Photo/MOFA
Modern 11-man and 7-man football pitches are also under construction, designed with an effective drainage and water harvesting system to avoid flooding.
Olunga, a trained engineer, engaged a team of seasoned engineers to design the football pitch together with the basketball and tennis courts, with a working drainage system.
Flooding pitches and courts is a major challenge that Kenya’s sporting infrastructure faces. Additionally, MOFA will have an adequate water supply.
Besides the on-site borehole at the academy, the contractor is working on installing a water harvesting system to ensure there is an adequate water supply for the academy.
There will be water sprinklers to water the grass on the pitch as required by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Michael Olunga Football Academy. Photo/MOFA
The sprinkler system is underground and automated. They pop out on schedule and water the grass in a uniform way.
Further, the Michael Olunga Football Academy will have a state-of-the-art gym equipped with all the necessary equipment for fitness and stamina building.
Some of the equipment in place includes cardio workout machines, rowing machines to support a full-body workout, speed bikes, modern treadmills, and elliptical trainers.
Equipment for strength training, such as dumbbells, chest and leg press machines, weight plates and barbells, are available.
Further, there will be a solid perimeter wall with an electric fence for safety purposes.
Where is Michael Olunga Academy Located?
Michael Olunga Football Academy elite squad. Photo/MOFA
The Michael Olunga Football Academy is located in Homa Bay County. It sits on a five-acre piece of land. Olunga says that MOFA’s gym will expose young players who visit the academy to international training standards that young players abroad train under. MOFA already has an elite team playing in the National Super League (NSL) that will benefit greatly from the academy once its construction is complete.
Meanwhile, the academy’s head coach, Lloyd Wahome, ended his tenure with the Michael Olunga Football Academy elite team. This is after his side ended the season in seventh position in the NSL.
Wahome had a short-term tenure with MOFA’s elite squad for the second time but failed to lead the Homa Bay-based football club to victory in the NSL.
