The Kenya Kabaddi Sports Federation have drawn up an ambitious plan to grow the sport at the grassroots, culminating in a men's and women's national league.
Competitions secretary, Perpetual Mbutu, says part of the grand scheme is to liaise with schools to tap talent at an early age.
"It is a great thing that kabaddi has been included in Competency-Based Curriculum. We have reached out to schools, including the Kasarani region as well as international schools, such as Peponi. We want to teach them the modern rules of the game since most of the schools that had already adopted the sport only know the former rules," Mbutu said.
With regards to a national league, Mbutu said the federation is planning a 47-team league each for male and female players and have so far garnered teams from 18 counties.
"We want each county to give us a team each for men and women to form the league. This would mean they conduct inter-county games to select the two teams," she explained.
Mbutu, also the competitions secretary at Africa Kabaddi Confederation and the World Kabaddi Federation in the same capacity, expressed hope that 2022 will be a better year for the country and the continent, thanks to a busy calendar of activities.
"In December, we will be hosting the Junior International Championships whereas the qualifiers will be held in March. There is also the African Championship in Egypt in July where we will be defending our title," she said.
The men's team emerged champions of the continental showpiece in July this year after dominating hosts Tanzania and Egypt.
Mbutu admitted the growth of the sport has taken a beating from the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced a halt to many of its competitions.
"We had laid out strategies to develop the sport at the beginning of 2020 but then Covid-19 came. Since kabaddi is a high-contact sport, we were hardest hit by the pandemic and it has been quite tough since then for many players," she said.
On Saturday, the federation has organised a tournament at GSU grounds in Ruaraka where 11 teams will be battling for medals.
They include National Police Service, Moyo, Scorpions, Champions, Marurui, Shauri Moyo, TAK, Kakamega, Laikipia and Kirinyaga.
"It is more of a get-together of the kabaddi fraternity to celebrate Jamhuri Day and the end of the year. There will be medals for the winners and also a token of appreciation for all participants," Mbutu said.
