Sport
Creating spaces where young people can compete, discover their abilities and be seen.
ROW SPORTS FESTIVAL • EST. 2020
Transforming talent.
Empowering communities.
Building Kenya’s future through sport, education, mentorship and community.
Awendo, Migori County · Kenya
More than sport
More Than a Sports Festival.
ROW Sports Festival began in 2020 as a community football tournament at Ringa/Saria Primary School in Awendo Constituency, Migori County. What began as a grassroots sporting initiative has grown into a wider platform connecting sport with education, mentorship, health, talent development, environmental conservation and community opportunity.
Education
Connecting sporting opportunity with scholarships, educational support and learner development.
Mentorship
Helping young people build confidence, leadership skills and direction beyond the playing field.
Community
Using sport and community activities to create wider social, environmental and development opportunities.
ROW at a glance
Small beginnings.
Wider possibility.
A grassroots platform connecting young people with opportunity on and beyond the field.
What we do
Sport is the start.
Opportunity is the goal.
ROW has grown beyond football into a platform for talent, learning, wellness, leadership and community.
01
Sport & talent
Football, women's football, under-14 football, athletics, volleyball, netball, talent identification, scouting and player assessment.
Explore events ↗02
Education
Scholarships, educational support, school visits, learner motivation, career guidance and entrepreneurship.
Explore events ↗03
Health & wellness
Medical outreach, health education, mental health awareness, counselling and wellness activities.
Explore events ↗04
Mentorship & leadership
Leadership, mentorship, life skills, career development, entrepreneurship and personal development.
Explore events ↗05
Community & environment
Tree planting, school greening, environmental awareness, community service, cultural activities and social support.
Explore events ↗Talent pathways
From Talent to Opportunity.
ROW creates opportunities for young people to discover, develop and showcase their abilities. Different participants may follow different paths, but the goal remains the same: create opportunities where talent can be seen and developed.
01Community talent
↓
02Festival exposure
↓
03Scouting & assessment
↓
04Club / academy opportunity
↓
05Competitive development
Documented club connections include Gor Mahia, Ulinzi Stars and Muhoroni Youth.
The wider movement
Sport is the start.
Opportunity is the goal.
ROW uses sport as an entry point to create wider opportunities in education, mentorship, health, leadership, environmental responsibility and community development.
SportEducationMentorshipWellnessLeadershipCommunity
Education
Talent should never come at the cost of education.
ROW believes young people should have opportunities both on and beyond the playing field. Through scholarships and educational support, the initiative connects sporting opportunity with continued learning and development.
400+ Scholarships awarded76 Students
currently sponsored
Explore
education & scholarships ↗
Rooted in community
Growing the game.
Growing the community.
ROW brings together sport, culture, creativity and community activities to create an experience that extends beyond competition.
Tree planting & seedling distributionSchool greening &
conservationCommunity service & social supportOrphanage visits &
donationsTraditional games, Ajua, singing and dancingModelling & creative
talent
Why ROW?
A platform built for possibility.
Talent
Creating spaces where young people can be discovered and developed.
Education
Supporting young people beyond the playing field.
Opportunity
Connecting talent with exposure, mentorship and pathways.
Community
Using sport to contribute to wider community development.
Building stronger people
Care for the person.
Not only the player.
Medical outreach
Medical outreach and community health engagement.
Health education
Wellbeing activities that support informed, healthy communities.
Counselling & support
Mental health awareness, counselling and support.
Developing more than athletes
Guidance, leadership, careers, life skills and personal development.
A ROW success story
One opportunity can open many doors.
Esther Caren Ochieng’s journey speaks to the confidence and visibility that a local platform can unlock. Alongside her Bachelor of Education background, she has continued to turn exposure into growth.
2022 Miss Rongo Constituency2023 Miss County
Migori2024 Miss Universe Kenya Finalist · 1st Runner-Up, Miss Cosmo
Kenya2025/26 Miss Piny Luo2026 3rd Runner-Up, Miss Universe
Kenya
Founder’s message
“Talent should never be wasted simply because opportunity is missing.”
Eng. Rolex Otieno Wasonga started ROW from a conviction that potential deserves a pathway. The movement remains grounded in that same promise—to identify talent, nurture it and help it travel further.
Eng. Rolex Otieno Wasonga Founder, Patron & Chief Sponsor
Voices of impact
Testimonials.
“Your support greatly motivated our players and officials and played a significant role in promoting sportsmanship, talent development and unity among the participating teams.”
Raju Nyariere Club Secretary, Yago FC
Second place, ROW Tournament 2025
“The ROW Tournament continues to serve as an important platform for nurturing, identifying and developing young football talent within Awendo Sub County and beyond.”
Awendo Football Academy Champions, ROW Tournament 6th Edition 2025
Empowering young talent through education and sport
“Identified during the fourth edition, P. Ochola officially joined Gor Mahia Football Club - a powerful reminder of what a local platform can make possible.”
P. Ochola ROW Sports Festival alumnus
Progressing from the festival to competitive football
“One opportunity led to another, creating visibility, connections and further opportunities.”
Esther Caren Ochieng ROW Foundation-supported creative talent
Miss Universe Kenya finalist and 3rd Runner-Up, 2026