COSTLY ADVENTURE: Kenya to spend Sh500 million in sending 360 athletes to All Africa Games

Kenya will send a squad of more than 360 athletes and officials to the 11th edition of the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, starting on September 4–19.

This will cost the government over Sh500 million, which is Sh50 million more than the amount spent on the 2011 games in Maputo. The Government is, however, yet to approve the budget.

With men’s volleyball being the last to be axed from the contingent to Brazzaville, Charles Nyaberi, the Executive Officer for the Kenya team, said about 360 athletes will be in Congo in a bid to improve on their last outing in Maputo where the country secured 50 medals – 14 gold, 14 silver and 22 bronze to finish in sixth overall.

“The qualification campaign is coming to an end now. We have missed out on football, basketball and volleyball men, but we have done well in other team sport to secure the tickets.

 

GET RESULTS

“We now need to turn our focus from qualification to early training and I hope we will be able to get the best results in Congo,” said Nyaberi.

This year’s edition marks the 50th anniversary of the games, as well as their return to Brazzaville, which hosted the first edition in 1965. Ghana and Kenya wanted to host the event but the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa awarded Congo.

Nyaberi confirmed 22 sports disciplines will be competing in the event, with Kenya competing in about 16 of them. Two additional disability sports - athletics and swimming – have also been added. However, the refusal to hand the games organisation from the supreme council to Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca), has watered it down as it will not be used as a qualifier for the Rio Olympics Games in 2016.

 

NATIONAL PRIDE

“It is a step down, but I hope the Africa Union agrees to work with Anoca and have it as a qualifier platform for the Olympics to inspire and improve calibre of competition. But it stills makes a statement  many countries will want to compete here and win,” said Nyaberi.

Of course international sports competition are nothing but a stage to showcase national pride and happiness and this is the main reason All Africa Games is still holding strong among some athletes’ calendar.

In Maputo, four years ago, South Africa won the bragging rights as the best overall country with 156 medals – 61 gold, 55 silver and 40 bronze. Egypt was second with 66 medals, 32 being gold ahead of Nigeria (98), Tunisia (68), Algeria (85) and Kenya (50).

On Sunday, Rwanda defeated Kenya 3-2 to qualify for the games. Kenya was seeking revenge after previously losing to Rwanda twice in the final of the same competition.