Kenya Lacrosse Federation eyes World Olympics competitions
Unique Sports
By
Osinde Obare
| Jul 25, 2023
Kenya Lacrosse Federation (KLF) has started an aggressive campaign to participate in the 2028 World Olympics.
The Federation's president Cosmas Nabungolo said they are seeking a slot when the World Lacrosse makes a debut in the world Olympics.
Nabungolo said the federation had written to the National Olympic committee NOC seeking affiliation status.
Speaking during the launch of lacrosse centre for excellence at St Joseph's National school and St Joseph's Girls, Nabungolo they are reaching out more schools and universities in the country to embrace the sports.
Accompanied by Lacrosse national team coach Peter Geneger, Nabungolo said plans are in advanced stage to introduce the sport in the Kenya Secondary schools Sports Association KSSA from next year.
"We have scaled up campaigns to be recognized by National Olympics Committee and also seek a slot at the World Olympics in 2028," said Nabungolo.
The new sport activity, said Nabungolo is attracting excitement from high schools and universities.
While encouraging learning institutions to embrace the sport, Nabungolo revealed that they federation had established excellence centres at Mangu, Lenana, Moi Girl Nagili, St Peter Mumias and more will opened in Nyanza, Coast and Eastern provinces.
Kibabii, USIU and Keriri women are universities where the sport has been established.
He argued that Kenya has made achievement in the sport since it took part in World Lacrosse under 19 girls in Canada in 2019 and under 21 boys in 2022 at the University of Limerick in Ireland where Uganda also participated.
He expressed confidence that Kenya will take part in the World Olympics.
"Lacrosse has been invited to take part in the 2028 world Olympics a d we want Kenyan team to be there and this is why we are preparing players," he said.
He announced that the federation had identified coaches from US who have been posted to high schools and universities train and .mentor players.
The sport, he said give students variety of sports to choose from and also present to them the opportunity to travel across the world to participate in international tournaments.
Lacrosse is a sport that founded in America by the natives and introduced to Kenya by Storm Trntham, a player and coach based in Wales.
Each side of the team is made up of 12 players consisting of a goal keeper, midfielders a d attackers.
The ball is passed from one stick to another aerially, the ball is thrown to team mate using the stick where the tem .ate catches and then pass while tackling opponents.
For one to score you take the ball and you throw it into a goal ,which is six feet by six feet.
The sport was first introduced in St Peters Mumias in 2015.