Youth across the country have been urged to embrace sports as a profession that is capable of uplifting their fortunes through earnings.
At a time when the country continues to struggle with the joblessness crisis, Wycliffe Sirengo, the head of sports at Zetech University called on youngsters to embrace sporting activities as a business venture full of opportunities.
He noted that participating in sports such as football, netball and athletics among others not only ensures the player keeps fit but also enables one to earn thereby helping fight poverty and unemployment.
Speaking at the varsity’s Mang’u Campus in Juja during celebrations to mark the completion of studies for sponsored students under sports kitty, Sirengo also called on institutions of higher learning to nurture and support talents among the youth in a bid to alleviate moral decay and uptake of outlawed substances such as bhang and brews.
Sirengo noted that the university has been nurturing young talents across the country by committing Sh 10 million to offer scholarships to top talents identified through scouting during various sports tournaments across the country.
The students are provided with tailored opportunities to pursue their careers as they hone their skills in various sports such as rugby, football, volleyball and basketball.
“The beneficiaries have been part of the University’s sports teams including Zetech Sparks (basketball), Zetech Oaks (rugby) and Zetech Titans (football). Our aim is to promote sporting activities and nurture students’ talents, and this initiative seeks to motivate sportsmen and women that sports can be an active source of income,” Sirengo said.
He however noted that the Sh 10 million kitty is however inadequate as tens of talented students continue to express interest in the fully-paid academic sponsorships.
The sports head at the same time divulged that Zetech is developing modern and global standards sports facilities in its expansive Technology Park, Mang’u campus in Juja, Kiambu County as it seeks to take sporting activities among students a notch higher.
“These facilities will not only benefit our students but will also be accessible to members of the community,” he said.
Among the beneficiaries of the sports scholarship are Brian Kimiti, a talented rugby player who has won accolades and who believes his passion will propel him to higher professional heights in the sport.
Kimiti revealed that there are numerous opportunities in the sports sector and urged his fellow colleagues to pursue their passion to enable them to explore their full potential.
With sports, the rugby player noted that the youth can shun drug consumption and substance abuse so they can be self-reliant and become role models in society.
Angela Akinyi, another student challenged parents and guardians to encourage their children to embrace sports so as to be fit and have a brighter future.
“If you realize that your child is talented in any sporting activity, give them your total support because it might end up being their career,” Akinyi said.
