Coaches call for more funding for athletics

By Ben Ahenda

Two prominent athletics coaches from Central Province have appealed to MPs to direct half of the Sh1 million Constituency Youth Sports Fund to the development of athletics.

Ibrahim Kinuthia of Kimbia and Francis Kamau of Esmi athletics camps in the high altitude area in Nyahururu told Feverpitch there is immense potential in the region compared to other sports to justify support.

They regretted much of the money set aside for developing sports in the constituency has in the past not been invested in athletics.

Speaking in Nyahururu Stadium last week after taking runners through morning training, the two said prioritisation of the Youth Sports Fund should be addressed since local runners were increasingly taking up careers in athletics.

Involved In Athletics

They urged area members of parliament to emulate their North Rift counterparts who are involved in organisation of athletics events.

They said athletes are currently major employers and called on the MPs to seriously get involved in their constituencies’ athletics programmes.

The two said Nyahururu has produced great athletes, from the 1988 Seoul Olympics 3000m steeplechase gold medallist Julius Kariuki, five-time World Cross country champion John Ngugi, 1991 All Africa Games 5000m silver medallist Ibrahim Kinuthia to 400m queen Ruth Waithera.

Others are Sydney Olympic Marathon silver medallist Erick Wainaina, Charles Kamathi of the 2003 10,000m fame and Beijing Olympics Marathon champion and World Half Marathon record holder Samuel Wanjiru.

The two coaches said the runners have invested back in their rural homes and have created employment opportunities.

"These athletes have done us proud and this is why we need to encourage upcoming runners," they said.

Kamau regretted at the moment, each constituency is only allocated a paltry Sh60,000 of the Sh1 million to develop athletics.

At the same time, Kinuthia said coaches from the region have created a welfare association for runners.

 

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