Echesa: Let’s exploit sports deal with Cuba

Rashid Echesa Sports and Heritage CS Rashid Echesa (left0 signs a Memorandum of Understaind with his Cuban counterpart Dr. Antonio Becali in Havana, Cuba, on Friday March 16, 2018. [Standard Sports]
 

Kenya can benefit from training and development of coaches and specialists in various sports

Sports CS talks of MoU with Caribbean nation saying it will open up opportunities for Kenya.

Sports and Heritage CS Rashid Echesa is confident Kenya will benefit immensely from Cuba’s expertise following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

Echesa, himself a former boxer, said Cuba is a sporting power especially in field events as well as boxing adding that Kenya should tap into their know-how.

“Cuba have made tremendous advances in sports medicine and organisation of sports programmes, which we need to learn from,” Echesa said after the signing of the MOU with his Cuban counterpart Antonio Becali.

The Sports and Heritage CS, who accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta on a state visit to Cuba said he was impressed with Caribbean island nation’s advances in sports management.

“Kenya can benefit in terms of training and development of coaches and specialists in various sports. Cuba is a powerhouse in boxing, high jump, triple and long jump whereas we are dominant in athletics

“A few years ago we called the shots in boxing, unfortunately we lost all the values that made us competitive on global stage,’ Echesa told the Standard Sports from Cuba.

Cuba has won 37 gold medals, 19 silver and 17 bronze in boxing at the Olympics while Kenya has Robert Napunyi Wangila’s gold medal at Seoul 1988, a silver medal and five bronze.

As part of the agreement, sportsmen and women from the two countries will exchange technical support and consultancies in different fields.

The agreement will map out areas for academic exchange, sports medicine, doping control and computer science applied to sports among other goodies.

Cuba’s President of National Institute of Sports Physical Education and Recreation Antonio Eduardo hailed ties between the two countries saying they were open to closer co-operation.

With most sports facilities in Kenya run down, Echesa said the Government was looking forward to tapping into Cuba’s experience in putting up sporting facilities and equipment.

“If this is done, it would allow for community sports to thrive,” Echesa said.

By Ben Ahenda 43 mins ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Tanak urges Kenyan children to take up motorsports as a career
Rugby
SCHOOLS: From the classroom to the field, Kisumu Girls ready to lift national rugby trophy
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Neuville clinches Kasarani stage as Hyundai makes intention known
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Will Fourmaux finally break M-Sport Ford jinx in Naivasha?