Kenya’s under-15 boys’ and girls’ national football teams are safely on their way home after an unexpected overnight stay in Uganda, which sparked temporary concern over their welfare. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has moved to clarify the situation, dismissing reports that the young athletes were ever stranded or abandoned.
The teams were in Uganda participating in the CECAFA-CAF African Schools Championship, a prestigious regional tournament showcasing top school-level talent from across East and Central Africa. The event, which concluded this week, featured competitive matches, training camps, and mentorship programs designed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to nurture future stars.
According to the FKF, the situation unfolded on Wednesday when the teams checked out of their accommodation as scheduled but encountered an unforeseen delay with their transport to Entebbe International Airport. This disruption pushed their departure into the late evening.
“In a bid to comply with the Ministry of Education safety guidelines—which strictly prohibit night travel for student teams—the decision was made for the players to remain at St. Mary’s Kitende, the host school, overnight,” the federation explained in a statement released Thursday.
The FKF emphasized that, contrary to circulating rumors, the teenagers were never without support or a safe place to stay. “CECAFA and St. Mary’s Kitende ensured that the teams were fully supported throughout this period,” the statement read. “At no point were the teenagers stranded without assistance.”
The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has informed CAF of the incident, confirming that the welfare and safety of the Kenyan delegation were always the top priority.
With logistics now resolved, the teams are en route back to Kenya. The FKF acknowledged the operational hiccup, stating, “FKF acknowledges the logistical, administrative, and operational challenges experienced during this assignment and is reviewing internal processes and capacities to strengthen coordination for future engagements.”
The federation extended its gratitude to CECAFA and the Ugandan hosts for their swift assistance and reaffirmed its commitment to “providing safe, well-organised environments for all our youth teams.”
The incident has highlighted the stringent duty-of-care protocols in place for school sports, even as the young footballers return home with their focus now shifting from the pitch to their journey back.
