Officials from various County Taekwondo Associations are appealing for support from devolved governments.
The officials are requesting county governments to support Taekwondo by providing requisite facilities and finances so as to enable more young people from the grassroots embrace the spot.
Speaking during a Taekwondo tournament held at Edinburg School in Murang’a on Saturday, the officials who also serve as coaches and referees for Taekwondo claimed that very few devolved administrations have been supporting the game.
On his part, the Chairman Murang’a Taekwondo Association, Ndung’u Ng’ang’a observed that for most of tournaments being held at the inter-county level, officials of the host counties usually cater for all expenses.
He noted that county governments have been providing facilities for outdoor sports while forgetting to support the many indoor sports.
“In many counties there are no halls which we can use for taekwondo competitions. We usually hire private premises. County administrations need to consider availing necessary facilities to boost indoor sports,” Ng’ang’a said.
He underscored the need for taekwondo, saying the sport has instilled discipline to many young people especially those who had indulged themselves into abuse of drugs.
“After getting the much needed support, we will be able to recruit many young people into taekwondo and introduce the sport in many learning institutions,” he stated.
The chairman said currently they are holding tournament in all counties in effort to pick the best players so as to form a national junior team which will be representing the country in international games.
“As at now we only have national team for the over 18 years but we don’t have a national team for juniors. Soon we will have a team in place,” he asserted.
The Treasurer of the association, Saida Wambui lauded the county governments of Mombasa, Kajiado and Migori for fully supporting taekwondo to a level of sponsoring their county teams to participate in international games.
“To be able to have a best national team for juniors, we need to visit each and every county so as to identify best players. This can only be realized by getting support from county governments,” noted Wambui.
So far they have held tournaments in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kajiado and Nairobi counties and now Murang’a.
During the Murang’a tournament, eight counties, including the host county, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, Kilifi and Nairobi participated.
Murang’a team trounced the rest by banking 15 awards followed by Nairobi and Kiambu teams.
By Bernard Munyao
