Table Tennis to hold trials for Africa Youth Games

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

KTTA boss Andrew Mudibo, Purity Kioko of Daima Milk and Patron Jane Pinto

Table Tennis will hold its  selection trials at Oshwal Sports complex Nairobi on April 12 to pick a team to the Africa Youth Championships in Gaborone, Botswana.

The team to Botswana will be managed by former Kenyan international Mariga Mwangi who is also the vice-chairman of Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) and Chairman of Coast its branch.

Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has given Kenyaonly two slots – one each for the boys and girls. This is down from the original six slots, which is applicable to all participating countries for the games set for May 22-31.

KTTA Chairman Andrew Mudibo said the reduction is affecting all the teams in Africa and not just in Kenya.

“This means we will only enter one boy and girl for the Youth Games,” said Mudibo.

 KTTA will over the next four years aim to create a vibrant framework for developing sustainable junior structures.

“This is the strategy we will be using to lure more talent and sensitise the youth, who will take over from the current generation,” said Mudibo.

Mudibo added that the girl who will be carrying Kenya’s flag in the Africa Youth Championship will be drawn from St Monica School in Kitale while the country’s representative in the boys’ category will be selected through a competitive and transparent process during the final trials in Nairobi on April 12.

On April 14-15, Kenya will  face a monumental task in the Junior Olympic Youth qualifiers to be held in Cairo, Egypt.

Kenya will also have the opportunity to host the Africa Hope Challenge and Tournament on April 19-24 for the Under-13 boys and girls at Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani.

 The senior men’s team is also lined up for a points-earning tournament on May 10-11 in Mombasa and this will be used as a yardstick to select the squad that will represent  the country in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland from July 24 to August 3.