Busolo calls on government, corporates to support netball in Kenya

Nairobi County Netball branch chairperson Millicent Busolo has appealed to the government and other corporations to support Kenya’s netball.

According to Busolo, the sport was crucial in growing and nurturing talents nationwide.

Speaking on Sunday after the conclusion of the Nairobi Open Netball Championships, Busolo congratulated all the teams that competed, noting that the sport was a sleeping giant in the country. She was also concerned that the little or no deliberate effort to grow the sport discouraged most players from competing.

“The second edition of the Nairobi Open Netball Championships has been a success, but the low turnout of both the men's and women's clubs is now an issue of concern to the federation even as all eyes now are geared towards developing the game of netball from the grassroots level,” Busolo offered.

Her sentiments were echoed by Nairobi County Netball branch secretary general (SG) Lilian Anupi who insisted on the need to recognize the efforts made by netball players countrywide, and at least motivate them.

“With our meager resources, still we have been able to see young men and women beat the rainy Nairobi weather to battle it out for supremacy in netball, surely, these remarkable efforts should be recognized and supported for the game to grow,” she said.

11 times national Netball women's league champions Prisons Kenya won the second edition of the championships after winning all their five games to amass a total of ten points in the round-robin two-day event held over the weekend.

Prisons fielded a first team full of senior national team players led by captain Pauline Ramadhan at Goal Defense, Goalkeeper Terry Othuon, Lydia Nyapere, and Lucy Akumu in attack with veteran Irene Anyango marshaling the center as Mary Atieno was deployed on the flanks to defend.

Equity Bank, on the other hand, showcased national under-21 prodigies who were fresh from the recently concluded World Youth Netball Cup, Africa Qualifiers in Pretoria.

The team boasted of the tournament's best shooter 19-year-old Yvonne Nyaino leading their attack, national team assistant captain Miriam Wamani in the center, Naham Ogot in attack, Vivian Adeke as wing defense and Bridgit Amusugot as goalkeeper. Still, unfortunately for the exciting youngsters, the veterans carried the day to be crowned overall winners.

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Equity Bank came in at second place having won the other four games with eight points while Shalma, a club that traveled from Naivasha town took third place honors after winning three games and losing the other two.

Mombasa road-based Daystar University had a tough outing, but at the same time proved a force to be reckoned with after winning two games and losing three to finish at position four with four points. Cash-strapped Mathare won only a match to finish in fifth place with two points, a position above bottom-placed Oldies who finished the tournament without a single win.

Prisons Kenya also won the men's category when they beat the Umpires home and away to claim the overall winners' title.