Tong-IL Moo-Do Champs hang in balance as funding delays

The government is non-committal on facilitating the national team, Jasiri, who are the reigning champions, and captain Elvis Malipe fears the annual competition could collapse due to delayed funding.

“The team is ready to play and we have foreign teams that have already arrived. Foreign officials who were supposed to be brought in to officiate this championship have not yet arrived. Tournament supplies that were supposed to be shipped in have not come and it does not look good for us as a country,” said Malipe.

Thus far Turkey, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Korea, and China have arrived in Mombasa with more teams expected on Friday.

27 foreign teams were expected to dock at the coastal city of Mombasa to participate in this year's championships.

The government has been the key financier of the championship for the past 11 years but Lorna Abiero, Kenya’s ladies team captain, says they have been demoralised by the delayed funding.

“The team is frustrated because of the lack of funding from the government. The team was expecting to play and defend our title but unfortunately we don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.”

Team Jasiri won last year’s edition for the 11th unprecedented time after amassing 191 medals, including 46 gold, 54 silver and 93 bronze.