Africa-Press – Kenya. The national deaf handball team will enter camp early next year in preparations for the Deaflympic Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in May next year.
This is after the naming of a provisional squad of 29 ladies and 25 men following the national championships at the Nyayo Stadium last week.
Deaf Handball Federation of Kenya Secretary General Johnstone Mutua said they are not going to Latin America as also-rans but as competitors for the handball title.
“We aim to have a strong team to enable us better our performance at the 2nd World Deaf Handball Championships in 2018 where we finished fifth overall and first in Africa. In conjunction with the Ministry of Sports, we will come up with the camp early next year to prepare in earnest for the competition,” Mutua said.
Mutua added that the final list of 18 players for each side will be selected by latest April, when the residential camp is expected to conclude.
The provisional squad comprises players from around the country.
In some of the results of the national championships, Kilifi men’s team beat Kakamega 10-9 as Nairobi Handball Queens walloped their Mombasa counterparts 10-3. Mombasa men suffered a 23-0 humbling at the hands of Cobra Club.
Analysing the championship, Mutua believes there is more to come from Kenya if only deaf handballers are empowered with more resources.
“We usually have these championships in November every year to keep identifying, developing and nurturing the handball talents. This was the third edition,” he said.
“To ensure these talents realise their potential, we need more of these championships in other counties. This will ensure many more players are exposed. Funding is another major issue because some teams could not compete in this competition due to logistical challenges.”
Apart from handball, other ball games in which Kenya has qualified for the quadrennial competition are women’s football as well as men and women’s basketball teams.
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