East African Chipukizi Cup: Kenyan swimming teams impress as event marks new era in regional sports

The East African Chipukizi Cup, a dynamic and vibrant sports tournament, once again in December demonstrated the region’s athletic prowess, with teams showcasing exceptional talent in soccer and swimming.

Among the high performers in the inaugural swimming competition held in Braeburn School - Arusha, was Kenyan team Umoja Sharks Swimming Club, which came second overall, amassing 550 points.

Leading the way on total points was Riptide Swimming Club from Arusha, who claimed the top spot with 990 points in the competition that attracted over 15 teams.

The standout performer for Kenya was Chris Mugo, a swimmer out of Supermarlins Swim Club, who emerged as the leading swimmer in the boys’ 12-13 age group with a remarkable 88 individual points.

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Others; Mary Gathoni, Alistair Ochieng and George Ngugi from Umoja Sharks, took the win in their respective events.

In totality, the annual six-day extravaganza this year marked a significant milestone, drawing over 2200 young athletes ranging from seven to twenty years old from the member states of the East African Community including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.

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Beyond sports, the event organized by the Future Stars Academy, served as a platform for social cohesion, sports tourism and motivation for young athletes, as it gathered attention from international scouts, most notably from Nastic Sports Academy in Spain, rising to its prominence by identifying and nurturing raw sporting talents.

In 2024, the organizers are expecting more growth, as teams from various African nations including South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, Cameroon, Nigeria and those from overseas like Japan, have already expressed their interest in joining next year’s event.