Some 20 grassroot volleyball coaches in Embu have benefited from level one training courtesy of Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) in conjunction with the County Government of Embu.
The one-week training is to equip the participants with skills on basic rules, techniques and the values of the game according to KVF Acting President Charles Nyaberi.
Nyaberi said the trainees are also expected to promote and develop grassroots volleyball by identifying and nurturing young talents from zero to competitive level.
Speaking at Embu Talent Academy on Thursday while officially opening the training, Nyaberi said this was the second training after a similar one was held in Kitui recently and called on other counties to take the cue in a bid to grow the sport.
“The only way our sports will grow nationally is by having grassroots sports and talent development being taken seriously,” he said.
He said sports also played a critical role in keeping young people away from social ills such as crime and alcoholism.
Nyaberi also promised to host the class for national level two training next year that will then qualify them to enroll for international courses.
Meanwhile, Nyaberi said cases of teams hiring ‘foreign’ players in competitive games to boost chances of winning and doping were on the rise and killing sports in the country.
This, he said, was denying young, upcoming talents a chance to grow, saying they were working closely with federations organizing games in learning institutions to stem the vice.
County Gender, Youth and Sports CEC Jane Waroga said they were committed to continue growing talents in sports and creative arts as a sustainable program of employment creation in line with the Government Talanta Hela Program.
Embu KVF Organizing Secretary Joseph Migwa said the participants were coaches who were running clubs at the grassroots and are expected to be instrumental in nurturing young talents from the village and school level.
He said they will also go a long way in addressing shortage of much needed qualified trainers to spur the growth of the volleyball.
By Samuel Waititu
