Nine countries were due in last night for the 7th edition of Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) Games, starting today in Nairobi.
They include—Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They are expected to
join Mozambique and Egypt, who were the first to arrive, and hosts Kenya in the week-long event. Delegates from South Africa, Burkina Faso, Namibia, Uganda and South Africa are already in the country ahead of the event.
Speaking yesterday during the press briefing at the University of Nairobi (UON), the FASU Local Organizing Committee chairman Isaac Mbeche, said everything is ready and they are all set for take off.
Mbeche said the main objectives of the event was to promote peace and encourage program exchange among the Africa Universities. “The objectives of this event are to promote sports, provide networking opportunities and promote cooperation among Universities,” he said. Mbeche, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the UON, was however, quick to assure the visiting teams of ample security.
“The visiting teams have already cautioned us of their well being as far as their security is concerned, but we want to assure them that we are working closely with the government to ensure the event runs peaceful,” he said, adding, “We are all aware of the security lapses the country has been facing but all the same, the government together with UON security have everything under control,” said Mbeche.
Mbeche also took the chance to laud their sponsors among them Coca Cola, Techno Mobile, Nairobi Sports House, Chilly Willy and Industrialist Manu Chandaria for coming on board to support the games.
He said the Main Campus will stage basketball, chess, karate, netball, table tennis, America Football, handball and sitting volleyball) while Kenya Science will host soccer and badminton.
Track and filed event will be staged at Nyayo Stadium with Safaricom Stadium staging swimming and Nairobi Club (tennis).
Also in the attendance was the FUSA president Dr. Malumbete Ralethe who aplauded the host nation for their hospitality. Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi will grace the opening ceremony today at 10am.