Africa-Press – Kenya. Athletics enthusiasts in central Kenya have expressed deep concern about the rapid decline in the region’s standards.
Known to have once claimed bragging rights as the national team’s conveyor belt, the region has now been reduced to a mere spectator in the domestic and international arena.
In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Athletics Kenya (AK) Central region’s first vice chairman Erastus Kabugi said multiple forces have connived to contribute to the region’s declining form.
Kabugi said there has been a trend by government institutions and foreign agents to siphon talent from Central Kenya, leaving the region badly depleted.
“It’s not that we are not producing quality athletes. Our top cream has always been tapped by other institutions, ” Kabugi said.
“We also have agents who are usually quick to identify athletes and take them to compete in Japan. “We also have a scholarship program whereby students who manage C and above at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) are flown to the US for studies.
“It, therefore, becomes much of a challenge to maintain good athletes in central Kenya,” he said.
He further attributed the problem to the absence of training camps, adding that basic training facilities in the region are also in a dire state.
“Except Nyandarua, we don’t have any other training camps in the whole area. The reason why the Rift Valley continues to do well is due to the large presence of training camps established in the area,” Kabugi said.
The AK administrator, who previously nurtured young athletes as a teacher before climbing the ranks, said the intrigues of our education system are to some extent interrupting the country’s efforts in developing new talents.
“Teachers Service Commission these days employs teachers who are older compared to our days when we were recruited from college,” Kabugi said.
“Nowadays, teachers stay outside for a long time after graduation before being hired. By the time they get a job, they are old and tired and lack the enthusiasm to nurture budding athletes,” he added.
He also criticized school principals who have shown open disdain for extra-curricular activities.
“Some principals also completely lack the passion for sports and prefer their students to stay in class and focus on their studies. This reduces the scope of sports teachers to succeed in producing quality athletes,” he revealed.
“To a certain extent, some teachers have turned school sports into a money-making business and you will see them fighting for opportunities to send athletes to East African school sports without properly preparing them for the competition,” Kabugi observed.
The central region has previously produced top-notch athletes including Catherine Ndereba who won the Boston Marathon record four times. Ndereba is also a two-time world marathon champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist.
The late Samuel Kamau Wanjiru also stole international headlines after winning the 2008 Beijing Olympics in an Olympic record time of 2:06:32. He was the first Kenyan to win Olympic gold in the marathon and the youngest marathon gold medalist since 1932.
Then there is Douglas Wakiihuri who won the marathon gold medal at the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome. No other Kenyan male athlete had ever won the marathon at the World Championships or Olympic Games until 2007 when Luke Kibet became the world champion.
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