KTTA embark on talent nurturing initiative

Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) has rolled out a partnership program with three leading schools to nurture talented players in both primary and secondary schools.

KTTA president Andrew Mudibo says the partnership with Visa Oshwal Primary School in Nairobi, St. Monica Girls School in Kitale and St Joseph Boys High School, Kitale, is the first step in a journey towards nurturing junior table tennis players to cover the full circle in their pursuit of world class standards.

The partnership is an extension of the ‘Tucheze Tebo’ initiative that was started by the association in 2017, which aims at identifying talented players in primary and High School, who will be put on a five-year full scholarship program.

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“This is an initial five-year plan and we want to nurture players from primary school to secondary school and eventually into university. It is quite the undertaking, considering the travel and training program that the students will undergo. We are calling on corporate partners to come onboard because we wish to give these players exposure at the global stage to get the best out of them. Their coaches too will have to get the best training to be able to impart the best tactics in them,” Mudibo said during a press conference at the Visa Oshwal Primary School in Nairobi.

St. Monica Girls and St Joseph Boys High Schools in Kitale have over the years served as the backbone for KTTA in the western region of the country. The Association is targeting to have, in each of the 47 Counties, one Primary School and two High Schools (Boy and Girls), to be included in the program. Talks are also ongoing with some of the leading universities to agree to offering full scholarships to the talented players, who would have come through the program.

"If the program gets the proper corporate support, a full circle of training and exposure will make this a world class program," added Mudibo. 

Visa Oshwal Primary School principal Njoroge Ithagu called on past players to come on board and offer technical support for the program to flourish.

“Most of our teachers who are our 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,” Njoroge noted.

St. Monica Girls School principal Grace Ataro expressed enthusiasm in the program noting that it will further help cement her school’s position as a powerhouse in Table Tennis while making it as popular as other disciplines. 

St Joseph Boys High School Principal Godfrey Awuori, on his part, said the program will help in the development of the game which the school has embraced over the years.