Nandi County Women Representative Cynthia Muge has vowed to monetize sports talents in an effort to economically empower the local youth.
Muge said there were many people who can excel in sports but have not received any support to nurture their talents. “For long we have had the best sports men and women but their talents were not monetized but I assure, things must change this round,” Muge said.
She revealed that she was working closely with section of Nandi leaders to ensure sports and many other talents are not only used for leisure but also upgraded to be a reliable source of income.
She made the remarks during the launch of Boso Supercup volleyball tournament in Kapsabet town which her office has sponsored.
She said her move was motivated by the fact that Nandi has produced some of the finest national volleyball team players and coaches and that she needed to identify even more players from grassroots who can be perfected for national and even international championship challenges.
The tournament which is expected to kick off from next week has attracted 271 volleyball teams across the county with best winning teams both women and men categories to take homeSh500,000.
Muge proposed that the stadium which willsoon be constructed at Kapsabet town should have a state of the art volleyball and basketball courts to enable the young showcase their talents.
However, Gideon Tarus the General Service Unit and a national volleyball team coach present at the function expressed disappointment that drug abuse was ruining promising young volleyball players.
Tarus revealed that young athletes were using drugs with conviction that doing so would enable them perform exceptionally not knowing they are destroying their bodies. “It is high time we come together and speak out how drugs are ruining young talented Kenyans in sports,” he suggested.
The national volleyball coach further advised young talented sports men and women to consider pursuing their education as it’ll help them in life skills and their talents progression.
“I get disturbing calls from parents who gave us their talented children for upgrade but they end up getting lost in the city just because of little education or inadequate exposure ,” Tarus said.
Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Bernard Kitur also present said that strengthening sports activities in Nandi village will make youths busy and keep them out of drugs.
Nandi County Members of Assembly led by their Speaker Philemon Cheruiyot promised to strengthen sporting activities in the county through legislation.
By Geoffrey Satia
