The Lions of Nairobi: How a 5th-Tier Team Captured the World’s Attention
By Noreen Kituyi In the heart of Nairobi, a football revolution is being measured by something far more rare than trophies: profitability . Kahawa Pride FC, currently competing in the lower tiers of the Kenyan football pyramid, has become a global case study in how digital storytelling and radical transparency can build a sustainable sports model from the ground up. The modern era of the club is driven by a unique partnership. Hayes Cannup , who founded the apparel brand JerseyBird in 2019 while studying at the University of Tennessee , owns 50% of the club alongside Mathias Olander . (Left)- Hayes Cannup (Right)- Mathias Olander The story of how they came up with the idea to purchase the club is a testament to the global nature of the "beautiful game." In August 2019, while Olander was coaching at the Swedish club IF Elfsborg , he first heard about the potential of the Kahawa project from Kenyan international star Joseph Okumu , who was playing for the Swedish side at the...