Culture, harsh climate hinders Garissa athletes from prospering

Northeastern Athletics Kenya chairman Abdullahi Salat has said athletes in Garissa need a conducive environment to prosper. 

However, lack of proper infrastructure, culture and harsh climatic conditions have also been cited as the main issues that are holding the region from prospering in athletics.

Cross-county championships are scheduled for December.

The region has always performed dismally in the field with the few who always participate at the nationals performing poorly against their competitors from other regions.

The issue was raised during a meeting that brought together head teachers and sports teachers from Garissa, to discuss ways and how to promote athletics in the county and tap talents.

Salat said the issues can be tackled if all stakeholders work together.

“These are not insurmountable challenges. They are here with us and we have to find a way and overcome them. We have started a journey that we know will get us somewhere,” he said.

Salat urged the stakeholders to tackle the doping issue saying it had become a major concern.

“We know it is not easy but we have to try and I am optimistic that with a dedicated team,  we will succeed because the talent is there,” he said.

Garissa primary sports and ball games chairman Ahmed Dekhow said the time had come for all stakeholders to work together to identify and nature talents from a tender age.

“We will form small camps of identifying talents and children after which clusters will be formed,” he said.

“Most of the international athletes who go for under 17 are always drawn from institutions in primary and secondary schools. However Northeastern rarely produces any.”

Northeastern Athletics treasurer Mohamed Abdi said there was a need to create camps where the talents can be natured.

“If we are not careful our fame and the name that we have worked so hard to build over the years will be ruined and we will be a pale shadow of our former selves,” he said.

Abdi who is also Garissa Primary School head teacher said for the country to succeed in sports, all stakeholders must work together.

Six years ago Athletics Kenya started kids' athletics which has played a big part in identifying young talents.

“We want to thank AK for coming up with such a programme.  We are in contact with AK leadership and the Ministry of Education so that early identification and placement can be taken care of,” he said.

Abdi said this would ensure those picked can be taken to high-attitude areas where they can be given intensive training.

“Our new curriculum talks about pathways where early identification of children's talent can be identified and given an opportunity in terms of how best they can be realised through giving them pathways,” he said.

Among the resolution include the training of technical officials that will include head teachers and sports teachers in primary and secondary schools, every school should have its camp to train their athletes, and schools should use the available resources to train them.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris