How young captains are holding Eastleigh’s football together
Two young captains are keeping grassroots football alive at Eastleigh’s PCEA grounds, where poor facilities and tight schedules haven’t stopped teams like Simba Matata FC and Melawa FC from showing up.
At Eastleigh’s PCEA grounds, football survives, not because it’s easy, but because it matters. The pitch is bare, uneven, and often double-booked. Still, every evening, teams show up. What keeps them going isn’t money or fame - it’s leadership from within.
Two young captains, Yahye Siyad of Simba Matata FC and Stephen Maundu of Melawa FC, are among the unsung figures behind this quiet movement.
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Both clubs compete in Nairobi’s grassroots leagues with little to no financial support. Most players are under 25, balancing football with school, work, or the daily struggle to make ends meet. Training runs from 4PM to sunset—after the day’s hustle is over and hope can take the field.
As captain of Simba Matata, Yahye knows leadership isn’t just about barking instructions. It means showing up, staying consistent, and setting the tone, especially when everything else feels uncertain.
“Being a captain means showing the team how to carry themselves on and off the pitch,” Yahye says. “That’s how you build belief.”
Now in his second season wearing the armband, Yahye has seen the challenges first-hand: overcrowded fields, erratic training schedules, and poor playing conditions. The PCEA pitch is shared among several community teams, so space and time are limited. But the spirit endures.
Across from him in Eastleigh’s local football scene is Melawa FC’s Stephen Maundu, just 19, already leading a team full of players fresh out of high school or working casual jobs. Attendance is inconsistent, and the squad is small.
“We don’t have many players, and when someone misses training, it affects how we prepare,” Stephen says. “Still, we try to keep moving forward.”
Melawa’s recent rise to the top of the sub-county league table is due in large part to Coach Mahad’s steady hand. With only two footballs and no registration fees, Mahad focuses on structure and growth, not frills. He once played on the same field, and now mentors those trying to find their way.
“Most of these boys didn’t have hope until they joined a team,” he says. “Coaching here is about helping them grow—even without the right equipment.”
Despite the challenges, order is maintained. Coaches coordinate through a field committee to share access to the pitch. It's not perfect but in a place where dust outnumbers resources, football still finds a way.
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