Aag Disciplines Reduced to 18

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Muigai Kiguru

21 May 2011

Kenya will enter 18 disciplines in the 10th edition of the All Africa Games (AAG) set for Mozambique from September 3-18.

AAG chef de mission Charles Nyaberi said this will be a reduction of the 21 disciplines initially earmarked for the games after rowing, shooting and weight-lifting were dropped.

Nyaberi said the three events were axed after the hosts admitted they have no facilities to run the events. However, Kenya will be represented in athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, football, handball, judo, taekwondo, karate, netball, swimming, sports for disabled, table-tennis, tennis, triathlon and volleyball.

According to Nyaberi, most disciplines do not have to go through the qualification rounds. ” The disciplines that were required to go through the qualifications including-basketball, handball, volleyball and netball- have already done so,” he said.

Only football is yet to claim their slot as they will have to fight it out against Uganda in the final round of the qualifiers. “We are hoping to field our best teams in Mozambique as we target maximum medals,” said Nyaberi. “The government is even considering flying-in some of our best foreign best players like Grace Madegwa (handball) and Christian Vitulli (tennis).”

Nyaberi observed that, to enable the teams prepare and take part in the games, the Local Organising Committee has a projected budget of Sh271 million, with the government expected to contribute half the amount. LOC will solicit the rest of the amount from sponsors. Nyaberi said the country is keen to improve on their sixth position at the last edition of the games in Algeria in 2007, where the country won 13 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze.

Egypt won the overall title with 74 gold, 62 silver and 63 bronze while hosts Algeria were second ahead of South Africa, Nigeria and Tunisia, who settled for third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.

He said four committees including- steering, central management, general management, marketing/publicity to facilitate the success of the AAG.

Meanwhile, the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) has elevated Vanraj Sarvaiya to the position of vice chairman with Andrew Mudibo replacing him as a committee member. The changes were orchestrated following the death of former chairman Joshua Okuthe, which prompted the then vice Ndiritu Gikaria to climb to the helm, leaving his vice chairman’s position vacant.

Patrick Kinyori, Emily Omae and Winnie Kivuti have also been incorporated in the executive committee following their appointment by sports Minister Paul Otuoma earlier in the year.

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