Withdrawal of women’s U-17 team from world qualifiers ill-advised

Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa addresses the press during the inspection of Kipchoge Stadium in Eldoret on September 15, 2017. FKF has voluntarily withdrawn the national team from the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The FKF should put the interest of the sport and the players at the forefront.
  • We can no longer afford to fund activities based only on little evidence of benefit or simply because we have always done so.

Just two weeks ago, we lost the privilege to host the African Nations Championship due to unsatisfactory preparations.

Now the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has voluntarily withdrawn the national team from the U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The reason given is that the qualifiers will fall during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations period.

While this seems a fairly reasonable justification, it is another instance where we have to cover our faces in shame.

AGE
By choosing to withdraw completely from the qualifiers for the tournament being hosted by Uruguay next year, many girls will be unfairly denied the opportunity to represent their country on a grand stage.

With the next tournament after this being set for 2020, many girls who are currently aged 15, 16 and 17 will be ineligible as they would be over that age.

We have failed to qualify for the Fifa World Cup in both the men’s and women’s categories.

KCSE

That is fair enough. However, withdrawal from a junior World Cup tournament is frankly shameful.

The FKF should have requested the head coach or the selecting committee to choose only girls who are not sitting Form Four exams this year, instead of pulling out.

There is tremendous growth in women’s sport in the country, with the volleyball team and track athletes raising our flag high.

YOUTH

This is the time to grow the women’s game in the country and withdrawing teams from competitions is not the right way to go.

The FKF should put the interest of the sport and the players at the forefront, otherwise similar decisions could end all youth participation in international contests.

Mike Rono, Nairobi.

* * *
In Kenya, the rate of unemployment and idleness among the youth is worrying.

It is time the government considered sports and the arts as alternative ways of earning a living for our youth.

Traditionally, we have been taking sports for granted.

They have been considered activities for those who have failed academically. This mentality needs to be changed.

RESEARCH
Michael Olunga, an engineering student and a footballer, footballer Victor Wanyama and Paul Tergat, a former professional long-distance runner, are successful in life.

We can no longer afford to fund activities based only on little evidence of benefit or simply because we have always done so or because a lobby for a particular activity screams the loudest.

Decisions must be driven by fact, data and research.

SPORTS

There is a growing research base in Kenya on the impact of music, acting, football, athletics, rugby, volleyball, hockey, swimming, tennis and cycling, among other activities on society.

These activities help in the development of positive character traits such as self-discipline, teamwork and individual responsibility.

Would it not be wise to question some of the activities the government supports in light of the country’s current needs?

Ian Wamatu, via email.