Kenya Tong-IL-Mo-Doo national team ‘Jasiri’ is ready to defend their team title in the forthcoming Mombasa Open International Championship.
The competition is slated for December 15 to 17 at the Aga Khan Gymnasium in Mombasa with about 42 countries expected to compete.
Speaking on Monday morning at the Light International Academy in Mombasa, where the team has been camping, the Kenya Tong-IL-Mo-Doo Federation chairman Master Clarence Mwakio said they are ready for the competition.
“This year has been tough for the national team. However, spirits are very high and we hope to retain the championship trophy,” said Mwakio. This will be the 11th edition of the Mombasa Open International Tong-IL-Mo-Doo Championship with Team Kenya winning the overall title in the previous ten competitions.
Mwakio said the team members have been training for the last year at their respective clubs and the camp is meant to polish them up and bring synchrony.
“We have over 50 players in camp both young girls and boys, and adults who will participate in sparing forms and special techniques individually and as a team,” he said.
“We are doing some polishing and watching out against injuries because we can’t afford to get injuries a week to the tournament. We have the advantage of not traveling plus we are acclimatised to the weather conditions and we expect good results,” Mwakio said.
He warned that retaining the overall team title will not be a walk in the park as Jasiri expects tough competition from other teams especially the Philippines and Iran. Stiff competition is also expected from Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and DRC Congo.
Mwakio, who also doubles up as the president of Africa Tong-IL-Mo-Doo Federation, also said they are happy the government has promised to support the event with slightly above Sh100 million.
The Kenya Tong-IL-Mo-Doo Federation were seeking Sh272 million to support both the team and the event. The World Tong-IL Moo-Doo Federation has agreed to pump in Sh106 million with participating countries covering Sh105 million.
Mwakio expressed optimism that they will stage a classic and memorable event to close the year on a high note. “We had requested Sh230 million for sponsorship and Sh45 million for the national team preparations. However, we were advised to scale down the budget and look for more sponsorship,” he noted.
The national team captain Elvis Malipe said that though they expect stiff competition, they have prepared well and are ready for the competition.
