800metres Olympic silver medalist Ferguson Rotich to grace KICOSCA Games

August 5, 2021. Silver medallist, Ferguson Rotich of Kenya poses on the podium REUTERS

The 800metres Olympic silver medalist Ferguson Rotich will grace this year's edition of Kenya Inter Counties Sports and Culture Association (KICOSCA) Games set for Embu from October 3-10.

Rotich who was recently appointed as a good ambassador for Kericho County where he hails from will be a guest runner after he won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics innthe 800metres.

And he will be a guest runner in the same speciality at the Kicosca Games according to KICOSCA Secretary General Muraya Kabiri.

Kabiri said the presence of Rotich at the games will be a morale booster for the upcoming athletes from different parts of the country having been approved by KICOSCA Governing Council to take part in the week-long games comprising of 21 disciplines.

He confirmed that 35 counties confirmed sending their teams to Embu having missed last year's edition, which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

"This time, we are ready for the games having been approved by the relevant authorities and the beauty about it is that a section of players who participated in the Tokyo Olympics have accepted to join us in Embu," Kabiri told Standard Sports.

Major venues will be Kangaru Boys and Girls High Schools, Embu University, Kigari Teachers Training College and other educational institutions and hotels in Embu town.

Kabiri said Embu Governor Martin Wambora who is the Chairman of Council of Governors(COG) will be installed as the new patron of the games between September 6-10 when the baton should be handed over to him by outgoing patron Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony.

"The handing over of the baton symbolises the official commencement of the chapter to the eight day competition at a time the (KICOSCA) governing council will be having their final preparatory meetings for the games," said Kabiri.

Other teams invited for the championships are the Senate, Ministries for Devolution and Sports and Heritage, Lapfund, Constituency Development Fund(CDF) and Council of Governors(COG).