Africa-Press – Kenya. Mombasa Badminton Club chairman Isaac Wandera wants the newly appointed Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to help resolve the wrangles within the federation.
Wandera lamented that they are currently banned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and they are unable to compete in any international competitions.
He asked the state to put the federation’s leaders in check and hold them accountable for such occurrences.
“I am optimistic the new CS will be able to solve the wrangles in the federation. At the moment, we are just taking part in local events and we are stuck when it comes to the international tourneys,” he said.
He added: “The government has failed to tame these federations that emerge out of nowhere. Initially, the government used to support us well but not anymore. It has become difficult to invite other countries for tournaments because of the long procedures.”
Wandera added that lack of participation in international competitions has wasted a lot of players including top seed John Wanyoike.
“The players are losing a lot and time is moving fast…talk of players like Wanyoike among others, who have abandoned the sport due to lack of international exposure,” Wandera said.
At the Commonwealth Games in August, the country sent two players, Wanyoike and Sammy Sikoyo after successful intervention by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya to the BWF.
Wandera said other countries had the ability to send more players and blamed Kenya’s woes on the wrangles. “We only had two players because of these issues,” he said.
He noted that Mombasa is doing well in terms of the sport and they have been having tournaments as they look forward to things opening up.
“Right now, we have so many people playing. The sport is doing well here and I believe the same applies to other places,” he concluded.
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