Shauri Moyo’s unsung coach changing lives through football
After an injury cut short his playing career at 27, Denis Maina stayed close to the game. He began organising young players in Shauri Moyo, gradually building a grassroots team and guiding them through football, not for money or recognition, but out of commitment to his community.
Coach Denis Maina’s football journey began as a player and captain, leading from the front. But in 2010, an injury cut his playing career short at just 27 years old, leaving him at a crossroads. Rather than walk away from the game, he chose a different path, one that would reshape not only his life but also the lives of many young people in his community.
“I got injured during a tournament and became unfit,” Maina recalls. “I wasn’t playing anymore, so I started mobilising players around Shauri Moyo. That’s when I realised I had some leadership skills. Even when I played, I was the captain.”
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Without formal coaching qualifications at first, Maina threw himself into building a team from scratch. For several years, he focused on gathering and mentoring youth, using football to keep them engaged and away from negative influences. Eventually, his passion pushed him to get professional training.
“After mobilising players for about two to four years, I went for my CAF D licence. Since then, we’ve evolved as a team.”
The journey wasn’t without change. The team, which began as Lebanon FC in the Extreme Sports League, later became Upendo Foundation in the FKF County League, before finally rebranding to Shauri Moyo United - a name that truly reflected its roots in the community.
For over 12 years, Maina has worn many hats: coach, mentor, father figure. Football, for him, is more than a game, it’s a vehicle for transformation.
“I’ve used football to help young people stay away from crime, drugs, and hopelessness,” he says. “Grassroots football is all about passion. The challenges are many; player discipline, financial struggles and while you might earn something small, it’s not enough to live on.”
One of his biggest frustrations is the lack of recognition for grassroots coaches.
“Players get noticed, but for us coaches, it’s harder,” he says. “Yet we’re out here every day trying to help these youths avoid bad company.”
Despite the odds, Maina has built a record of success. Under his leadership, Shauri Moyo United has won several tournaments, including the Extreme League Division 1 and 2, Odi Bet tournaments, Betika tournaments, Yusuf Cup, and the Sakaja Cup in Kamukunji. The team were also finalists in the Nairobi East tournament.
“I’ve never coached any other team,” Maina says with pride. “Everything I’ve achieved has been with this one.”
Balancing football and personal life remains a constant struggle, but Maina is undeterred.
“Managing life and sports takes passion. If you come into grassroots football expecting payment, you’ll be lying to yourself,” he says. “But if you’re passionate, you’ll find a way. I work with the little I get. I don’t need a lot of capital to be a coach.”
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