Ferdinand Omanyala’s foundation looking to incorporate various sports
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 09.09.24. | 20:00
The Omanyala Foundation which was started with the sole aim of nurturing sprinting talents in the country is now looking to incorporate various sports
The Omanyala Tennis 10s will happen on Saturday, 28 September at the Nairobi Club and Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala could not be happier that his foundation is finally expanding its wings.
The Omanyala Foundation which was started with the sole aim of nurturing sprinting talents in the country is now looking to incorporate various sports.
This is just the beginning, as the foundation has ambitious plans to expand its support to other sports in the future.
Mozzart Sport chatted with the foundation’s brainchild who revealed that they are committed to helping athletes maximize the financial potential of their talent.
The foundation also aligns with Omanyala’s mission of changing the lives of Kenyan athletes.
“The main aim of the foundation is to develop and nurture athletic and general sports talents. The long-term goal is to professionalize sports in Kenya. I am looking to having different sports. I have already initiated talks with rugby, fencing, and swimming.
I want to see how these federations operate and see how the foundation will come in and make sports professional. Baby steps. We are still brainstorming and coming up with proper structures,” Omanyala offered.
The trailblazing sprinter went on to explain that his way to the top was not smooth but he was determined to use his experience to guide the younger generation of sprinters.
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He is a perfect reflection of how a rejection can quickly turn into the fundamental cornerstone needed to build the most prized of assets.
“The primary beneficiary is anyone who has a talent, no matter the background. As long as it is something worth investing in, the foundation will come in,” he continued.
The first group of athletes for the foundation was identified following the completion of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One national games in Machakos back in May.
“We had a call with KSSSA during the Term One national games and we discussed about them feeding the foundation with sprinters because that is where we want to tap in as we expand our network and create a program that will see us develop talents and give them opportunities,” he told Mozzart Sport.
With a wealth of experience in both rugby and athletics, Omanyala has faced the highs and lows of a sports career, making him uniquely equipped to guide the next generation.
Having navigated the challenges of both disciplines, he understands what it takes to succeed and is eager to use his journey to mentor young athletes.
“I am using my own experience to inspire because I have seen how the world works, and how things are run out here. This is the information I aim to give to the young ones and advise them on the way to go. Those who will be part of the foundation will have an edge over the others.
I want to give opportunities to those who do not get a chance to come to Nairobi and join big clubs or train in bigger facilities. I want to make sure that after campus, they will still have a platform to develop and grow talents,” he revealed.
What sets the Omanyala Foundation apart is its holistic approach to athlete development, which extends beyond just physical training.
“We have coaches, nutritionists, psychologists, etc. to develop wholesome athletes. We also want to feed the national teams with quality talents,” he offered.
So far, Adidas is showing promising signs of partnering with the foundation and Omanyala is optimistic that this potential collaboration will pave the way for attracting additional partnerships.
“The Foundation is bigger than me. The name is bigger than me. It will outlive me,” the optimistic Omanyala concluded.
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