All set for Rashid Abdalla Cup kickoff in Msa, Kwale - Citizen Digital

Harambee Starlets midfielder Corazone Aquino (C) in action during Rashid Abdulla Super Cup sixth edition exhibition match at Mombasa Sports Club. Photo by Mark Mutuku – Citizen Digital.

Mombasa is once again brimming with sporting energy ahead of the sixth edition of the Rashid Abdalla Super Cup, set to kick off this weekend.

But beneath the excitement, calls for urgent investment in sports infrastructure are growing louder.

During the tournament’s launch at Mombasa Sports Club, County Assembly Speaker Ahrub Khatri didn’t hold back his frustration with lack of sporting facilities.

“It’s unacceptable that Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, lacks a modern stadium,” Khatri stated.

“We’re depending on hired grounds for competitions like this. It’s time for our leaders to push for a new, standard stadium.”

Khatri challenged Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to introduce motions and budget allocations that will transform the county’s crumbling sports infrastructure. 

“If we had our Municipal Stadium functional again, we’d have preserved so much talent. The delay is not just embarrassing—it’s a loss for the youth.”

Echoing his concerns, Old Town MCA Abdulrahman Hussein highlighted the decade-long closure of the Mombasa Municipal Stadium, which has left the county without any reliable venue to host major tournaments. 

“We need proper, quality fields—not just for Rashid Abdalla Super Cup, but to unlock Mombasa’s full potential as a sporting hub.”

But amidst the criticism lies hope. Tournament founder and renowned TV journalist Rashid Abdalla is determined to use sport as a bridge for unity and growth.

This year’s tournament, organized under the Rashid Abdalla Foundation and “Lulu ya Jamii” banner, brings together teams from both Mombasa and neighbouring Kwale County for the first time.

“Take the Super Cup as your own,” Rashid urged the community. “It’s more than a game—it’s a pathway to opportunity. Scouts are watching. Lives can change.”