- Team Kenya departs for Trinidad this week
- They have been camping at the Kasarani Stadium
- The Games will start on August 4
Team Kenya will send 38 athletes representing seven different sporting disciplines to Trinidad and Tobago ahead of the Commonwealth Youth Games which are scheduled to start on August 4 and running all through to August 11.
The Kenyan contingent will have representatives in athletics (400m men and women, 800m men and women, 4x400m mixed relay, women’s javelin throw, 1500m men and women, 3000m men, and women), Cycling (Road Race), Para Athletics, Women’s Rugby 7s, Swimming (100m Men Freestyle and 50m Freestyle), Triathlon (men and women), and Beach Volleyball (women).
The team has been in a training camp at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, under the tutelage of former 800m World and Commonwealth Games champion Janeth Jepkosgei who is the General Team Manager.
In her role as GTM and as an ambassador for education and sports, Jepkosgei has emphasized the paramount importance of thorough preparations before embarking on their journey.
“Together with the coaches, I’m looking forward to having active and intense preparation for the athletes. These are our future champions, and we owe it to them to give our absolute best.”
Dedicated to nurturing talent
The Kenya women’s rugby team training
Beyond her remarkable track achievements, Jepkosgei fits the role perfectly. She has set up the Kapchemoiywo Camp known as Shoes4Africa, dedicated to nurturing young talents in the county named the Source of Champions.
Speaking about her passion for children in school and sports, she emphasized the importance of teaching them about clean sports, transitions, and the value of education.
In the previous edition of the Youth Commonwealth Games held in the Bahamas, Team Kenya made a resounding impact, securing four medals; John Mwangi 1500m), Edwin Kiplangat (3,000m) and Emmaculate Chepkirui (3,000m) winning gold, the latter also clinching silver in the women’s 1500m.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya Executive member, Winnie Kamau will be the team’s CEO.
Meanwhile, the girls’ rugby team is confident of making a good show in Trinidad. Coach Sarah Otieno who is also the rugby development officer at Kenya Rugby Union says they have prepared well and are ready.
“When we broke camp in April, they (players) had a lesson plan that they needed to go work out on. So when they came in, my work is to make sure that whatever it is that they were given they were able to execute,” explained the coach.
Players from various regions
The Kenya women’s rugby team training
The players have been scouted from various regions of the country and the coach is using a different approach in her drills.
Kenya will face the likes of Canada, Australia and Fiji, teams that play a very fast game. Coach Sarah’s sessions have been short, sharp and sweet to cope with these teams. Defence will be key.
“As time goes by we have worked on our defence patterns for players to understand what they need to do. If you are at the 5m line, how are you defending this ball? If you are counter attacking, then how do you counter attack? It is a lot of learning towards the end,” she noted.
The team departs for Trinidad this week.
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