President William Ruto has urged local footballers to emulate the discipline and dedication of retired German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger to succeed in their careers.
At the same time, Schweinsteiger, 40, has urged Kenyan sports administrators to establish talent development centers to provide budding footballers with a strong foundation for successful careers.
Schweinsteiger is accompanying the prestigious Uefa Champions League trophy on a three-day tour of Kenya, which began on Wednesday and will conclude on Saturday evening.
The tour, dubbed ‘Heineken Uefa Champions League Trophy Tour Kenya’ is part of the final leg of the global tour by the trophy. Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, and Zambia are the other countries that the trophy visited during this final leg.
After briefing the media on Friday morning at Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Schweinsteiger and representatives from Heineken and Uefa presented the trophy to President Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
“After listening to you (Schweinsteiger), it is my hope that our young footballers will be inspired by your dedication and discipline to build their careers and to elevate Kenya in competitive football,” said President Ruto.
President William Ruto (right) holds the Uefa Champions League trophy with retired German international Bastian Schweinsteiger at State House, Nairobi on May 2, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The President noted that it was a great honour for Kenya to be among the five countries that the trophy toured this year.
During the ceremony, President Ruto was the only Kenyan who held the trophy with his bare hands. However, he did not lift it, as that is only reserved for players who win it.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president McDonald Mariga is the only Kenyan allowed to touch the trophy with his bare hands since he won it with Italian side Inter Milan in 2010.
The last time the Uefa Champions League was in the country was in March 2012 when it was presented to the late President Mwai Kibaki at his Harambee House office.
His other achievements in the 17 years that he spent with Bayern include eight Bundesliga titles, seven DFB-Pokal (German Cup) titles, a Fifa Club World Cup title, and a Uefa Super Cup title. With Germany, he won the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
The former Manchester United midfielder said Kenyan footballers looking to be top players and not just good ones must possess “self-motivation, self-responsibility and a strong mentality.”
President William Ruto (right) receives a signed football from retired German international Bastian Schweinsteiger at State House, Nairobi on May 2, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“For sure it is also very important also in Kenya to have the foundation of youth academies for the players and also coaches for coaches. If you have these basics, you will get to that high level, of course, it will take a little time. It is also the right attitude of each player,” he observed.
The trophy will be on public display on Saturday afternoon at the Sarit Expo Centre in Wetlands, Nairobi. Ride-hailing company, Little Cab, will ferry fans for free to the venue in electric buses, with pick-up locations being Kencom, Junction Mall, TRM and Imaara Mall in Nairobi.
Nyawira Maina (left) Regional Corporate Manager Little Limited at the flagging off of 17 electric buses to transport football fans to Sarit Centre, Nairobi for the UEFA Trophy viewing.
Photo credit: Pool
On Saturday, Schweinsteiger will interact with Kenyan football legends at Serena Hotel in Nairobi. The event has been organised by Heineken, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, and FKF.
The final of the 2025 Uefa Champions League will take place in Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany on May 31.
In the return leg of the semi-final planned for Tuesday next week, Spanish giants Barcelona will clash with Italian champions Inter Milan with the two sides tied 3-3 from the first leg encounter on Wednesday at Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.
In the other semi-final, English side Arsenal will visit French champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc Des Princes on with PSG holing a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Emirates.
