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Curtains for the Sportpesa Extreme Super 8 Premier  League 2016 come down this weekend, with the grand gala set for the night of Friday 25th.
In what has been a splendid football season and memorable fiesta, lots of positives will be taken from this well run and managed low tier league in Kenya.

GOOD CASE STUDY

For a league that seeks to carve a niche for itself in the ever tricky world of football administration, the general organization of this championship has raised the bar a tad higher and is worth emulating in every sense of the word.

Besides the near flawless flow of fixtures, the country was treated to some breathtaking competition from the ambitious youth eager to make their mark in the beautiful game.
Matches were played in the spirit of fairplay and exhibited a sharp competitive edge thereby affording players the much sought after exposure and finesse needed to navigate the rigours of grassroot football.
A vital avenue is that young players were kept tied up, away from the numerous social vices and temptations that have hitherto seen many a talent go down the drain; bright prospects either gunned down by law enforcement agents or sent to the slammer for lack of opportunities to eke out a honest livelihood.

To cap the fine perfomances, officiating was amazingly top notch, perhaps arising from the reliable and improved perks of match handlers.

ATTENDANCE

World over, sport without an audience is stubbornly stale. The fans have not disappointed. Irresistibly drawn by the skillful displays on offer, football followers flooded venues to be entertained and catch up on progress of their beloved teams. ‘Super Sunday’s’ was at the height of the championship was testament to that.

Arenas were filled to the brim, the trickle down effects translating to bread on the table of almost all involved, from players to officials to administrators, stewards, marketers et al.

BORROW A LEAF

Credit goes to one man who is the architect of this magnificent structure, the brains behind Extreme Sports Limited.

Hussein Mohammed has silently directed the beats of the league reminiscent of the old adage ‘ he who leads the orchestra must turn his back to the crowd’.
He led from the front even as red herrings were cast from all directions to distract him. Love or hate him, he is a football administrator per excellence.
While all these achievements have come at a cost, often times high hurdles placed in their path, the Extreme League organizers have maintained a fine sense of decorum and patience going forward.
Their efforts are worth emulating from all quarters. KPL and by extension FKF need to burn the midnight oil trying to crack this magical formula employed by the rank and file at Extreme.
extreme 3If such successes can be felt on a national platform for instance, with the blessings and goodwill of all involved, the end product can only mean better tidings for the young people of Kenya and an upward trajectory of the game this part of the football world.

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com

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