MATHARE YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION

For Dennis Wanyoike, a player at the Bjorn Borg/MYSA Kayole zone Under 16 league has all the reasons to smile after Bjorn Borg brought a centre close to his door steps.“Decentralization of Kayole zone has been the best thing that ever happened to my recreation time” says Dennis Wanyoike who started playing for MYSA 5 years ago in Kayole zone when he was eleven years old.

Dennis played for Emirates team under 12 category when he joined MYSA, one year later he joined another team known as city rollers in under 14 category and later played for FC Brothers.

Four years back
“Four years ago, my team mates and I engaged in three MYSA activities only, we used to play soccer, do community clean ups and life skills but now there is much more to engage with. Ever since Kayole zone was decentralized thanks to Bjorn Borg and MYSA as a whole who have done a very impressive job, by giving as an office which helps us more as a zone for one reason or another, my team mates and I, have free access to a spacious and well stocked library, a resource centre which has a counselor who helps all adolescents and grown up youth with advice on reproductive health and other social issues as well as relevant information materials. We always feel proud to play with uniforms labeled Bjorn Borg and this makes us feel proud of ourselves”. Says Dennis.

The Kayole zone league committee used to hold their meetings under a tree on one side of the pitch, but that is no more since they now have a meeting room within their office, they also have all needed playing and community clean up equipments courtesy of Bjorn Borg that belong only to the zone.
“We have noted how a decentralized zone can bring changes in a place like Kayole where crime, prostitution and poverty are widespread. Young people have all the opportunities to utilize these facilities and keep themselves busy at all times” Added Dennis

A beneficiary
Dennis through Kayole zone has been a beneficiary of MYSA leadership award which is supported by Bjorn Borg and he strongly agrees that the award has made a significance contribution to his family’s financial needs. This year he has worked hard to earn another scholarship award as well.
Dennis comes from a family of 2 siblings and has both parents but only one has a job, he is currently a form 2 student in Kayole South Secondary School that he notes has no school library.

My school mates too go for their studies in the MYSA Kayole library which is just a stone throw away from my school. The Kayole zone has brought a big change to me and my friends, I am always within MYSA for all my recreation activities, I play soccer, I love reading, I get social support from the resource centre, I officiate matches and all of them are packaged in one big basket of hope, Bjorn Borg and MYSA.” Echoes, a delighted Dennis.