Name: Mathare Football For Hope Center
Capacity: 2000
Full Name: Mathare Football for Hope Center
Location: Komarock, Kangundo Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Tenants: Mathare Youth Sports Association
Opened: 2008
Owned and Operated by: Mathare Youth Sports Association
Cost: US$ 120,000
Surface: Turf
The history of Mathare Football for Hope Center does not just begin in 2008, though a major shift happened then. The Center was made possible by the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA world Cup in South Africa dubbed “20 Centers for 2010”.
The Facility, sized at about 200 square meters, is located at Komarock Estate on Kangundo road, East of Nairobi and features a Youth Center, a Stadium / Sports Facility a Community Center and a Health Clinic. Children between the ages of ten to eighteen from high risk areas, especially, Mathare Community, are considered the major beneficiaries of the project.
The Center is hosted by Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) which is located in Mathare, a slum in Nairobi, sandwiching Thika and Juja Roads, about 7km, East of the Central Business District. The Association has existed in the area since 1987 and has made notable strides towards developing responsible citizens through soccer. Many have also found their soccer career paths from the founder of the Association, Bob Munroe.
The Mathare Football for Hope Center stadium surface is overlaid with turf, an option that was considered easy and less costly to maintain.