Prepare for sports events
What you need to know:
- Most of the sports bodies have financial difficulties, exacerbated by the pandemic
Most federations will, for assistance, fall back to the Sports, Art and Social Development Fund.
The release by the government of the guidelines on the resumption of sports activities in the country on Friday could not have come at a better time for a sports fraternity that has seen no organised activities since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But while other sports were allowed to resume, several others were not — including football, rugby, swimming, basketball and volleyball. This has put them in a dilemma, considering that several of them have international fixtures to meet. Do they withdraw or wait and hope they are allowed to resume and send ill-prepared teams to competitions.
However, Sports CS Amina Mohamed asked federations that have upcoming international assignments to furnish her ministry with details of their events by September 30 for planning purposes. This is commendable since several big federations have major international assignments — including football, hockey and basketball — beckoning.
Admittedly, most of the sports bodies have financial difficulties, exacerbated by the pandemic. The Sports ministry’s support is, hence, required. Most federations will, for assistance, fall back to the Sports, Art and Social Development Fund.
Harambee Stars need to start their preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Comoros between November 10 and 20 this year, when the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualification, in which Kenya is pooled alongside Uganda, Rwanda and Mali, is also lined up.
The national men’s team face Senegal, Mozambique and Angola in Pool B of the Afro Basketball qualifiers first leg in November in Senegal. The hosts are already in camp in Portugal.
The national men’s and women’s hockey teams are due to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament in January and this will require good preparations and government support. They should, in fact, be going into camps.
Amina’s plate is full with expectations from sports federations; hence, she needs to act fast lest Kenya is caught off-guard in preparing teams for international engagements.
