Langat: Nurture young talents for better tomorrow

Former MP wants the County governments to start and develop sports talent academies to nurture and promote young talents. He was speaking in Kisumu.

County governments have been urged to initiate sports academies to nurture and promote young talents.

Former Kipkelion MP Magerer Langat emphasised the need to harness and tap young and diverse talents at early stages.

 “Some children are born with innate and diverse skills that if identified early and harnessed well, can turn to be great sportsmen and artists of this country,” he said.

Magerer asked county authorities to identify various talented sportsmen, who are either still active or have retired, to help mentor and fashion the young talents.

The former MP was speaking when he met young children at a Kisumu County Tennis Camp hosted by the Shining Hope Organisation.

The event was held ahead of the 10th Shining Hope Football and Tennis Championship that begins today in Kisumu.

The championships marks the 10th Anniversary of Shining Hope Organisation, a charitable institution that uses tennis to help disadvantaged children in Kisumu slums and their environs, to overcome day-to-day challenges.

Shining Hope Director Collins Agwanda said this year’s event has attracted hundreds of participants. He added that participants will win cash prizes and sports items.

Event coordinators, Erick Mulanga, Kasim Peter, Lindah Janet said about 24 teams have confirmed their entries.

The event is co-sponsored by Kenya Counties Tennis, FoH-USA, Eye Coach LLC-USA, Dunlop Sport-Germany, Elora Academy and Victoria Sports. The Daily December holiday camp has attracted children between four and 16 years.

“We would like to urge you to take tennis seriously and balance it with education,” said Langat, who urged county government to allocate proper funding to uplift sports development and facilities in all counties.

“The Kisumu governor promised to build a sports academy, but we are yet to see one,” said Agwanda.