Sammy Kitula
23 October 2008
Nairobi — Having realised that the future of the sport lay in getting more youngsters to play, the Kenya Squash and Racquets Association has produced a five-year Strategic Plan that will help tap talent in the country.
The plan sets out, among other issues, a junior development programme that aims to increase national, regional and international junior competitions as well as reviving the school coaching project.
"We have realised that there are many young squash players around the country, and this has forced us to come up with such a plan. No one would want to see all the talent go to waste," said KSRA chairperson, Lillian Wanjira.
In a bid to quell the notion that squash is a sport only reserved for the rich, Wanjira said the programme will seek to tap talent at junior and grassroots levels.
"It is a wide belief in Kenya that squash is a sport only played by rich people, but that's not the case. As a matter of fact, it's one of the cheapest sports in the country," she explained.
While trying to publicise squash, the association has been held back by a chain of setbacks.
According to Wanjira, the constraints they face include a limited number of playing courts in most members clubs and schools, lack of rackets, balls and lack of finances.
However, the KSRA is upbeat that in the future, squash could be rival other top sports in the country.
The coaching project initially targets five schools in Nairobi -- Lenana, Nairobi, Loreto Valley Road, St. Mary's Schools and Starehe Boys' Centre.
Wanjira says this will be replicated in other schools outside the capital soon.
"Coaching has already commenced in Lenana and Nairobi Schools, which have squash courts, with 30 students registering. The remaining three should commence any time, with an estimate of 40 students," said Wanjira.
"Although we have three coaching clinics during school holidays and a minimum of six junior events, which will compliment the project, the Stadia Management Board have agreed to help us to build squash courts at Kasarani."
The holiday clinics are conducted by John Mulwa, Mordecai Kabamba, Prince Mukuka, Charan Walia and Otieno Amara, among others.
The five clinics and competitions held since the start of this programme in 2006 have attracted over 200 children. The result of the Junior Programme has been a tremendous increase in the number of children playing squash.
"We have the talent, willing volunteers full of passion, and clubs offering their courts, but we need financial support," said Wanjira.
"We are looking to all our members, partners, friends, the government and well wishers to assist us in turning around squash in Kenya. I am confident that with this support, we can develop squash in Kenya to a higher level. I thank all our partners for their support."
By giving their best performances ever in both the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Men's Team Championships in Chennai last December, the senior players have also acted as role models, instilling confidence in the juniors.
It's my belief that most of these young players look to us as their role models and we cannot afford to fail them. Our positive international results have really helped them," said Kenya's second seed, Otto Kwach.
Says the chairperson: "We have made great progress, but challenges in the implementation of this programme still exist."
"We are looking to all our members, partners, friends, the government and well wishers to assist us in turning around squash in Kenya. I am confident that with this support, we can develop squash in Kenya to a higher level. I thank all our partners for their support."
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