Kenyan rowers among Africa’s best

National team finishes third at continental tourney in Egypt

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  • National team finishes third at continental tourney in Egypt

Kenya posted their best ever results in rowing when they bagged eight bronze medals during the African Rowing Championships in Alexandria,  Egypt.

Out of 16 teams that participated, Kenya finished third, their best ever performance. The team, which confirmed their participation at the championships at the last minute following a row between the rowers and its parent body over allowances, did well under difficult circumstances while their trainer, Firoz Khan, was voted the best coach at the championships.

Winning bronze medals were Kenya’s top rower Kelvin Echesa Bwibo, John Mugabe, Peterlis Osiany, James Ocholla, Imitiaz Firoz, Stephen Juma, Donald Mtuma and Martin Ngugi.

Major achievement

While praising the rowers for a job well done, Firoz said the team could have performed better if it was not for the standoff between the players and the Kenya Rowing and Canoe Federation over allowances which saw a majority stop training after being dropped from the traveling group.

“This is the first major achievement by rowers since rowing began in Kenya. I think we could have performed even better if we had trained longer,” Firoz said while thanking their main sponsors, Tudor Water Sports Marina and Marine Craft and Boat Repairs.

He also praised the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, FISA and KRACA, the national rowing body whom he however asked to step up their efforts to look for sponsors.

“We could have performed better if we had more support from the Kenya Rowing And Canoe Association,” Firoz said, adding that he was in process of restructuring the Tudor Water Sports Club by bringing in young fresh blood for better performance in future.