Kenya junior TT team lands invite to train in Britain

As part of the development partnership with Table Tennis England (TTE), the Kenya junior team is set to tour Great Britain in March 2021 for a three-week intensive training program.

The tour, according to the Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) President Andrew Mudibo, is not only part of the Road to 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 but also a precursor to Paris 2024 Olympics where the country hopes to qualify budding players.

Mudibo revealed that a strong Under-12 team comprising 14 boys and girls will be selected from various centres across the country ahead of the trip, factoring in schools, clubs and the now vibrant ‘Let The Girls Play’ program at the famous Mathare Youth Sports Association.

During their sojourn in Britain, the Kenyan juniors will be tutored by some of the best coaches who will accompany the team to tournaments across the European country.

KTTA is supposed to cater for internal travel costs as well as roundtrip airfare to England while TTE will take care of the training program.

TTE Chief Executive Sara Sutcliffe on her part said: “We are glad to partner with KTTA in the development of this amazing sport of table tennis. Needless to say, sport has no boundaries, as we are one family. Discussions are ongoing between us and the KTTA on how best we can help nurture talent in Kenya.

We are overly optimistic that the partnership will come to fruition and enable them (Kenya) feature prominently in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 and also use the opportunity as a springboard for the Paris Olympics in 2024.”

Mudibo added: “The development partnership couldn’t have come at an opportune time when KTTA is kick-starting long term plans to help young players attain qualification for the Olympics. For us, it’s a grand opportunity to grow junior structures to acceptable levels. Development is of paramount essence and must start from junior level, otherwise the sport won’t flourish. Table Tennis is akin to gymnastics where talent thrives in young people.”

TTE has over the years committed to supporting KTTA’s Tucheze Tebo (Loosely translated in Kiswahili for Let’s Play TT) initiative after holding a Development and Administration Workshop at Goan Institute in Pangani, Nairobi in 2015.

Mudibo, nevertheless, hinted that the success of the Britain tour is at the discretion of the esteemed Ministries of Sports and Education.

He explained: “We are desirous of having the juniors travel with their teachers to regain lost ground in academics. Once we have the blessing of the two Ministries regarding COVID-19, then we will figure out our next course of action.”