'Making of Champs' kicks off at Jericho

School children participate in the 100m hurdles during the Making of Champ of tomorrow at Ofafa Jericho Primary school. The event is organized by The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage to promote sporting activities among the Kenyan youth.  July 26, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The Ministry of Sports in conjunction with Ministry of Education yesterday organised role up introductory sporting activities dubbed ‘Making of Champs of Tomorrow’ at Ofafa Jericho Primary School in Jericho Estate in Nairobi’s Eastlands.

The programme aims at initiating the discovery and growth of various sports disciplines in schools in various regions of the country as well as foster the young participants’ talents.
It is aimed at exposing kids to other sporting disciplines and their basic rules. The sporting disciplines include rugby, football, basketball, athletics and volleyball.

The first phase of this project will be conducted in Thika, Embu and Nyeri before breaking for the forthcoming General Elections. The programme will cover 15 counties and will resume after elections August 26.

“It will also aim at establishing the influence of sports in our youth empowerment programmes across primary and high school students aged between 8-16 years,” said Jimmy Geeraerts, the event organiser.

The legacy programme is aimed at reaching 6,000 school-going children across the country who will be introduced to basketball, volleyball, rugby, football, short distance and long distance running.

Yesterday the kids were introduced the basics of football before they could show off their skills in dribbling, passing the ball, receiving a pass, shooting and scoring.
The kids were also introduced to the basics of field athletics field events such as warm up, technique jumping and shot put.
In volleyball the participants were taken through the basic skills of hitting, tossing, passing and serving the ball. The pupils were drawn from various schools within Nairobi region.