African governments have been urged to provide more resources towards deaf sportspersons to enable them fulfil their potential.
Josephta Mukobe, Principal Secretary for Culture and Heritage in the Ministry of Sports, said Deaflympics has for long been lumped together with Paralympics causing many deaf people to miss out on opportunities to compete at global levels.
"I wish to appeal to African nations to first of all separate Deaflympics from Paralympics and provide them with equal opportunities. Corporate bodies should also come on board and support all disability sports so that we all have the chance to grow," Mukobe said.
She reiterated on the need for deaf sportspersons to diversify into more disciplines other than athletics, basketball and football to enhance the continent's chances of a larger medal haul at the Deaflympics.
"As Kenya, we are proud and honoured to have hosted the first-ever Africa Deaflympics qualifiers. We expected 23 teams, both locally and internationally but due to unforeseen circumstances, only 11 of them showed up for these championships. I challenge deaf sports associations to diversify into other disciplines, such as swimming, javelin and long jump, among others," the PS said.
Mukobe was speaking at Moi Stadium, Kasarani during the closing ceremony of the two-week Africa Deaflympics Ball Games qualifiers, which culminated in the men's football final between Senegal and Mali.
The Teranga Lions took home the crown courtesy of a 14th-minute penalty by defender Marro Khadim.
Speaking at the same event, Mohammed Madoun, president of Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports, said more needs to be done to improve the standards of deaf sports on the continent.
"The qualifiers were largely a success as we have seen in this entertaining final between Senegal and Mali. The challenge we have been having is in women sports where only a few nations showed up and we hope more will be done in the future to rectify this," Madoun said.
Kenya will have three teams at the 24th edition of the quadrennial games in Caxias do Sul from May 1-15, including the women's football team as well as men's and women's basketball teams.
The three earned direct passage to the Deaflympics after their respective opponents failed to show up.
"I urge them to continue training hard and ensure they are in the best possible shape well in time for next year. I wish to also urge the authorities involved to exercise gender equality by supporting both men’s and women’s teams in their preparations for the Games," Panagiotis Kardonorisuus, Deaflympics Football Technical Director, said.
