Karatekas ready to hit the road and raise funds

By Oscar Pilipili

Karate as a martial art is an indoor sport but exponents will do an extra-ordinary practice when they take to the streets of Mombasa and Malindi to raise funds for Malindi International Clubs scheduled for March 25-30.

Kenya Karate Federation (KKF) chairman Caleb Atemi said they have entered into the final lap in their preparations for the Clubs Championships with a fundraiser road run slated for this Sunday.

Close to 100 senior and junior karatekas are ready for the 120km relay race which will be flagged off by Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe and Mombasa Mayor.

Atemi said that Tourism Minister Najib Balala who was to be the official guest is in Germany on official duty.

Atemi told the media that every karateka will jog for a maximum of two kilometres while passing the baton.

"We shall each do two kilometres in the race which kicks off at 6am. We have an ambulance and a bus to move along the route to monitor the event and carry those who have finished the race," he said.

Minimum energy

Sensei Peter Ombima (left) in a disarming training session with national team’s Erick Omondi at Parklands Sports Club. [PHOTO:JONAH ONYANGO/ STANDARD]

The federation’s chairman said that to make the race easy and fun, there will be two groups, one starting off at the Bamburi Beach Hotel in Mombasa and the second group taking off in Kilifi, closer to Malindi.

"This arrangement will ensure that the runners use minimum energy while harvesting maximum fun," he explained.

Local leaders led by Malindi Member of Parliament and Tourism Minister Najib Balala had been fully involved in the fundraiser. Atemi said that the construction of the ring close to the ocean had commenced at Blue Marlin Hotel, venue of the one week event to be officially opened by Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.

Good response

"There is good response from potential sponsors and we’re talking to Brookside Dairy and GlaxoSmithKline among other karate friends who have shown interest in partnering with the KKF to promote sports tourism while fighting drug abuse in Kenya," said Atemi.

He said the federation also received a major boost from the anti drug agency NACADA, who agreed to dress the National karate team.

"We met with the NACADA Chief Executive Officer Aggrey Busena and agreed that the agency will buy track suits for the national team and also supply T-shirts to visiting karatekas.

"We discussed the visit by the Vice President (Musyoka) to have a drug rehabilitation centre on the day of the official opening. We have also discussed with Police Spokesman Erick Kiraithe, who is part of the organising committee on all the critical security matters for our visitors," said Atemi.

The national karate team is training daily at the Parklands Sports Club under the watchful eye of coaches, Bon Owiti, Peter Ombima, Peter Kogi, Anderson Katana and Gabriel Mutuku.

The official said the federation is determined to pursue its multi-pronged campaign in promoting martial arts.

"We are working with various partners to promote healthy living through the sport. We shall continue promoting good health, sport tourism, and anti drugs war and anti rape in all our activities," he said.