J2Aand partners recently took part in the Nairobi Football Festival for Peace, anevent that aimed to showcase how football can be used for good, promotingunity, inclusion, and gender equality.

Thefestival brought together various 'football for good' organisations andfootball industry investors and was held in the build-up to the Kenyan nationalelections in August 2017.

Thefestival featured 16 teams of mixed gender across the U10 and U14 age groups.Each team received festival t-shirts sponsored by Standard Bank (Stanbic), withadditional support from partner organisations including MYSA, Alive &Kicking, Just4Keepers, and Vijani Amani Pamoja.

Throughout the day, playersattended workshop and coaching sessions conducted by the various partner organisations,under the watchful eye of MYSA's Chairman Bob Munro, who received a specialedition festival polo shirt from J2A director Sailesh Navsaria

One ofthe highlights of the day was the arrival of Premier League footballer andKenya team captain Victor Wanyama, who signed over 200 autographs for allplayers, coaches, and organising staff. Each team was presented with speciallydesigned festival footballs handmade by Alive & Kicking, new GK glovescourtesy of Just4Keepers, and inspirational photocards signed personally byVictor.

Thewinning teams and runners-up were awarded trophies and prizes generouslysponsored by Standard Bank (Stanbic), and all teams received a J2Aparticipation award. Victor addressed everyone at the end of the day with wordsof love, peace, inspiration, and encouragement, making it a truly fitting endto a wonderful day where the joy of football shone through and young boys andgirls got to meet their footballing hero.

We areproud to have been part of this festival and to have played a role in promotingpeace, unity, and gender equality through the power of football.

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