Judo team sharpens skills ahead of championship

Kenyan team at the East and Central Africa Judo Championship in Moshi, Tanzania.

Kenya is stepping up training for the 11th edition of East and Central Africa Senior Judo Championship slated for Zanzibar from March 1-5.

Team Kenya squad of 28 members is currently at residential camp at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani, working on a strategy to beat 12 other countries that are in the competition.

While in Zanzibar, Kenya will battle players from Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi,
Rwanda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan and hosts Zanzibar among others.

Team Kenya Manager Dancun Chemiryo said their mission in Zanzibar is to surpass the number of medals the country won in the 10th edition held in Bunjumbura, Burundi, last November.

“Despite poor officiating in Burundi we still managed to finish the event second overall with seven gold, five silver and 19 bronze. Our aim in Zanzibar is to go beyond that and ultimately lift the overall team trophy,” Chemiryo said.

Chemiryo added that he is happy that Team Kenya squad, composed of 17 men and 11 women, has no injury so far and their level of fitness is beyond reproach.

“The team is fit. We are just working on tactical approaches to the game before we depart for Zanzibar later this week,” said Chemiryo.

Kenya Judo Association President Shadrack Maluki has thanked the Government for coming on board to support the team financially ahead of the regional championship.

“We are glad that the Government has heeded our financial request and has since catered for our accommodation and travel to Zanzibar,we also urge well-wishers and corporates to chip in to make the team’s training and participation comfortable,” observed Maluki.

The Kenyan team is coached by Joseph Mburu who is being assisted by Joseph Momanyi, Zablon Masha and Lawrence Nyundo.

“I can only promise fireworks in Zanzibar. I believe our strategy will be successful,“ Mburu noted.