Disquiet in Kenyan camp ahead of African Games

A sense of unease is slowly creeping in among the athletics team to African Games as the continental championship draws closer.

The team has been in residential training at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani while being hosted at a Nairobi hotel for close to a week as they intensify preparations for the Games.

It is however the tough conditions that athletes are going through at the residential camp that has been an area of concern.

Athletes are among the final teams that will travel on the third batch on August 23 but crunch times awaits as the team is set to be axed before their departure.

In an interview, one of the athletes who did not want to be mentioned revealed that accommodation has been a problem for them at the team hotel with limited space compared to their numbers.

“Right now, the hotel is full and there is no space for others. I feel confused and think of paying myself a place because things are not good at the moment,” the athlete in the team revealed.

Another athlete also reiterated the same issue and further disclosed that they were yet to receive their allowances.

“They are telling us that if you have a place then you can stay away from the hotel to create space for others,” said the athlete.

A source from Athletics Kenya revealed that the team may be slashed as the final squad is set to be drafted on Tuesday with the athletes to be chopped off the squad yet to be known.

On Sunday, Athletics Kenya officials led by Vice President Paul Mutwii and Nairobi branch chairman Barnabas Korir were seen consulting with the Games Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Nyaberi on the same.

“We are trying our best to settle the stand-off, it is always not easy when dealing with large squads,” said Mutwii who is also the overall team manager to the Games.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Sunday, Nyaberi revealed the teams which have been on their respective residential camp have been fully sponsored by the Ministry of Sports through the National Sports Fund.

“our teams have been in camp for the past two weeks and we have no problems because the government ha catered for everything,” observed Nyaberi.

On Sunday, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) issued kits to various teams apart from the athletics, Canoe and Rowing with Secretary general Francis Mutuku revealing that athletes were yet to receive their kits due their large squad while the Canoe and Rowing teams were yet to be confirmed.

Teams begin their departure tomorrow morning with the national volleyball team among the first teams to depart.

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African Games

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