NOCK leaving nothing to chance ahead of Commonwealth Games

Speaking during a corporate partnership event at the Team Kenya camp at Kasarani Stadium Hotel on Wednesday, NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki emphasized that the Glasgow show is not just another competition, but a high-stakes battleground for Olympic qualification.

Team Kenya is currently fine-tuning their claws at Kasarani Stadium before jetting out for the Games scheduled for July 23 to August 2.

“These games are very important because, first of all, they are also Olympic LA 2028 qualifiers,” Maluki stated. “They are quite important because athletes going there are going to earn points that will enable them again to qualify for LA 2028.”

Beyond securing direct qualification paths and essential ranking points, Maluki noted that Glasgow will serve as a vital scouting mission for Kenya’s technical teams.

NOC-K plans to meticulously monitor the performance and strategies of global powerhouses to shape Kenya's long-term approach for the Los Angeles Olympics.

“In terms of also gauging the other countries, how they are going to perform, we will be able to monitor. We are going there to monitor how other countries are performing because this will pave our perceptions in terms of performance in LA 2028,” he added.

Assuring the country of the contingent's readiness, the NOC-K boss affirmed that Team Kenya is fully prepared to tackle the challenges in Scotland.

He urged corporate bodies to follow the example of incoming partners like Bidco Africa to ensure the athletes are well-supported, noting that corporate backing goes a long way in eradicating perennial administrative hurdles.

Maluki further reminded fans and stakeholders that international podium success requires comprehensive development, warning that elite performances cannot be engineered overnight.

“These medals just can't come like picking them from the trees,” Maluki remarked. “You have got to prepare them mentally, got to prepare them emotionally. This is exactly what I am requesting the corporate world to come and do.”

With the final residential camps intensifying, Maluki rallied the nation to stand firmly behind the squad, expressing absolute confidence that Team Kenya is primed to “do wonders” on the global stage.