Identify talent at East Africa school games in Uganda

This year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games begin tomorrow at Mbale Stadium, in Uganda.

Once again, Kenya has several teams lining up for the regional event. The tournament comes hot on the heels of the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games where Kenya emerged top in Africa and 17th position globally.

Faith Cherotich, who won bronze in the 3000m steeplechase in Paris, is one of the latest Kenyan stars to have come out of the school games and gone on to make a mark globally.

As the Kenyan teams compete in Uganda from tomorrow, they should not look further for inspiration rather than one of their own in Cherotich.

The Kenyan youngsters in the ball games should emulate the athletics stars in Paris and show the rest of East Africa why we are a sports powerhouse in the region.

Kenyans have played second fiddle to Uganda since 2019 in football and this is the year they should demonstrate their power and silence our rivals. We have shown this is possible by booking a slot in the Under-17 World Cup, a first-ever in the continent and it is the duty of national champions Butere Girls, Nyakach Girls and St Josephs to show that the World Cup slot was not a fluke.

Rugby, volleyball, handball and football boy’s teams should also strive to show the region that Kenya is not only about athletics.

Still, the Kenyan players at the regional games are our stars for tomorrow. And even as we push the youngsters to do their best and fly Kenya’s flag high, the government and all stakeholders must support them fully.

Being school children, they don’t get financial incentives like other teams, and the best we can do is take good care of their talent by giving them a conducive environment.

Officials of various football, volleyball and handball clubs should be in Uganda to identify talent. We should not be groping in the dark for talent only when a youth tournament comes up.

The school games are the best breeding ground for that. Additionally, our ball games clubs should not always be quick to sign players from abroad while we have abundant talent at home, which we can nurture even for the European market.

The likes of McDonald Mariga started at the school games before going on to win the Uefa Champions League with Italian giants Inter Milan. We should get more Marigas from these school games.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen must ensure talent identification is done during such events like the school games for our dream of playing at the Fifa World Cup in the future or challenging top nations in volleyball. Finally, we wish the Kenyan youngsters in Uganda all the best as they battle regional rivals.