He said late preparations will hurt the country’s medal prospects during the upcoming IWBF World Championships planned for August 1–5 in Sun City, South Africa. Simiyu, who also serves as the treasurer of Africa Wheelchair Basketball, said the World Championships preparations can't be taken lightly.
"We’ve already put training on hold for a week due to interruptions from other federations’ events, but if we can get the Ministry of Sports to hear our plea, we will stay focused for the global show,” he said.
The men’s and women’s senior teams, each made up of six players, are set to represent Kenya in the global wheelchair basketball showpiece for the first time.
The U23 men’s side reached the qualifiers for the World Championships in Johannesburg for the first time in 2023 after missing out in 2022while last year the competition paved the way for the Paris Olympics.
The women's U-25 are also gearing up for the Africa World Championship qualifiers scheduled for October 7–15 in DR Congo.
Simiyu said preparations are ongoing but admitted they’ve been disrupted by back-to-back sporting events, including the inaugural Junior Roll Ball World Cup last week and this week’s Africa Championship sitting volleyball.
He warned that limited access to venues and training time could affect their performance.
“Our preparations are in top gear, but we need time together as a team. If we get two or even three weeks this month, it will do us a lot of good,” he said.
He said Kenya is also exploring the possibility of hosting the 3x3 African qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for December 3–10 in Rwanda.
“I’ve already approached Rwanda and asked them if we can host instead, because I am aware they’ll be overwhelmed with their other commitments around the same time,” he said.
The federation is also preparing a bid to host the Africa Wheelchair Basketball Championships between January and May next year, although Kenya’s participation will only be confirmed by October.
“We’re pushing on all fronts. Our players are motivated, but for them to deliver, they need support. The World Championships are not just another tournament; they’re a platform to show the world what Kenya can do,” he said.
