S. GitahiLukenya Academy depart for Kampala Invitational Swimming meet
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 21.04.23. | 14:26
The group of coaches from the participating nations - Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda- will also take up a coaches exchange program as they look to refine their skills
A group of 43 swimmers from Lukenya Academy were on Thursday afternoon flagged off for the inaugural edition of the Kampala Invitational Swimming Championships set to take place on Sunday 23 April in Kampala, Uganda.
In the event that was presided over by Kenya Swimming Federation - Machakos County Governor Peter Mwangangi at the school compounds, the swim team - which consists of 10 of the best 15 swimmers that will participate in the Eastern Region School Games - was promised full support by the county government while committing to ensure the growth of the sport and nurturing of talent.
“We are grateful of the support we have got today from the school administrations and parents,” team head coach Benson Okoth said on Thursday. “It's been a great moment for us during the preparations and being our second time to grace the meet since its older edition in 2019, we are looking forward to improving our game and doing even better.”
The team, which will be assisted by Assistant coach Charles Muli, recently took part in the Level One and Level Two Local swimming championships held at the Moi Educational Centre and PIPSSA Kenya meets that have given them a proper assessment of where their standards are at the moment.
PIPSSA NATIONAL SWIMMING AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP AND SOCCER TOURNAMENT pic.twitter.com/p5Hba8p8bY
— St Christopher's Schools Nanyuki (@StNanyuki) March 4, 2023
“We have been in an opportunity to learn much from our previous events and I believe with the competition from Ugandan clubs like Dolphins, Seals and Aqua, teams will push us harder and we will have to be in our A-game,” Okoth stated.
Participation in the invitational meet dubbed as the ‘I’m Ready Swimming Challenge 2023’ sanctioned by the Uganda Swimming Federation will act as a ramp-up event for the team as they plan to compete in the Hamilton Aquatics Championships penciled for June this year in Dubai.
Joining the team - that makes up the Team Kenya squad - will be other swimmers from the reigning Mount Kenya Swimming Bloc champions St. Christopher's School Nanyuki, Umoja Sharks, Potterhouse School, and Pioneer Girls High School.
The championships hosted by the Uganda Swimming Federation kick off on Sunday 23 April and as per the PIPSSA-Kenya schools objective, swimmers taking part will engage in a series of tours for sports tourism and a coaches exchange program for the members of the technical staff.
