The Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) has launched a partnership program for skilled and talented players in both Primary and Secondary Schools.
KTTA president Mr. Andrew Mudibo revealed that the partnership with three top schools, that is, Visa Oshwal Primary School in Nairobi, St. Joseph Boys High School in Kitale, and St. Monica Girls School in Kitale is the first step in the journey towards nurturing and nourishing junior table tennis players to cover the full circle in pursuing world-class standards.
The partnership will be an extension of the ‘Tucheze Tebo’ initiative that KTTA started in 2017, which aims at identifying talented learners in both Primary and Secondary Schools for a full-scholarship program of five years.
“This is an initial 5-year plan and we want to nurture players from primary school to Secondary school and eventually into university. It will definitely be a tall order considering the travel and training program that students undergo.
“We are calling on corporate partners to come on board because we wich to get the best out of them and this will mean that they have traveling expenses and their coaches too will have to get the best training to be able to impart the best tactics in them,” Mudibo said in a press conference, at the Visa Oshwal Primary School in Nairobi.
St. Monica Girls and St. Josepth Boys High Schools in Kitale have been the backbone of the KTTA in the Western Region for years and it was a no-brainer to start there.
KTTA is targeting to have one primary school and two high schools (Boys and Girls) in every county across the country included in the program.
KTTA is also having talks with some of the best Universities in the country to also chip in to offer full scholarships to talented players in the program.
If the program gets the corporate support it needs, a full series of training and exposure will make the program a world-class one.
Visa Oshwal Primary School Principal Njoroge Ithagu invited former players to come on board and give technical support for the program to be a success.
“Most of our teachers who are trainers in schools only played the game during their days in school. If past players can come in through the association and offer technical support, we will be able to achieve the desired results from the program,” stated Njoroge.
“St. Monica has been a table tennis powerhouse for close to 20 years and we are happy to join this partnership. We hope it will be of great benefit to us and we can make table tennis a household sport just like football and athletics,” said St. Monica Girls School Principal, Grace Ataro.
The Principal of St. Josephs Boys High School from Kitale, Chief Principal Godfrey Awuori was also present at the meeting. He said that the program will help in the development of sports which the school has embraced for years.