Kenya's under-20 athletics coach Robert Ngisirei is bullish his charges will scoop gold medals in all races at the next month's Commonwealth Youth Games.
Team Kenya will jet out of the country on Tuesday for the week-long competition set for August 4-11 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Ngisirei is confident Kenya will bag more medals this time round compared to the 2017 edition when Kenya claimed three gold and a silver medal.
"I am expecting golds in 800m, 1,500m, and 3,000m races nothing else. This team here is unbeatable. In every race, we have representatives, we are taking home the gold medal. This time more medals are on the way for us," offered Ngisirei bullishly.
In the previous edition of the games held in the Bahamas in 2017, John Mwangi, clinched gold in the 1,500m race while Edwin Kiplagat and Emmaculate Chepkirui triumphed in the 3,000m race. Chepkirui added a silver medal to her cabinet in the 1,500m race.
He said he was in charge of the team that was in Ndola, Zambia for the Africa Under-18 Championships in May, where Kenya won 14 medals (six gold, two silvers, and six bronze).
Kenya dominated in the middle-distance races and Ngisirei believes with a bit of sharpening, they will be good for the global showpiece.
"I selected the team for the Commonwealth Youth Games after the Ndola Championships, based on performance. These athletes only need fine-tuning and ensuring they are mentally ready for such a championship which to most is the first time."
Ngisirei, who has been a mainstay at the helm of national junior athletics teams, said they have trained sufficiently and his belief is built on hard work, dedication and talent that the athletes have showcased in training.
"For the past two weeks, I have been rectifying the mistakes I spotted in Zambia. As of now, I can confidently say my athletes are ready and they are also motivated to impress at the global level," added Ngisirei.
In order to ensure Kenya collects maximum medals, Ngisirei added that all his athletes will double in Trinidad. "Everyone in my team will go for a double. If your main race is 1,500m, you will also run in the 800m race as this is the only way to win more medals. This is also a backup plan so that if one of the athletes fails to deliver, we will still have someone going for the top position. We do not intend to lose any gold."
Kenya will be represented by eight athletes (four of each gender) in the 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m races.
Amos Kipkemoi who will lead Team Kenya as the captain will double in the 400m hurdles and 800m races. Kipkemoi, who won silver and bronze at the Africa under-18 athletics championships exalted confidence in his team-mates.
"Looking at my teammates and their current shape, I am confident we will make the nation proud by bringing home medals from Trinidad and Tobago.”
