Guidance will make juniors world beaters
What you need to know:
- Athletics Kenya (AK), where I also happen to be a member, are yet to outline proper structures to nurture talent.
- Something tells me that we would have performed even better in Oregon if AK was fully involved in the preparation of the juniors just three months before the event proper.
Congratulations are in order for our national junior team to the just concluded World Championships in Oregon.
Kenya did well to finish second with four gold medals, five silver and seven bronze; behind USA with 11 gold, five silver and five bronze.
But the question begging for answers is what next after Oregon? From my experience, I have seen many excellent juniors go to waste simply because there are no structures to see them grow in the seniors.
Athletics Kenya (AK), where I also happen to be a member, are yet to outline proper structures to nurture talent. In fact, I am not afraid to say that AK don’t even know how these juniors are nurtured and just capitalize on the situation to get the mileage at forums such as the Eugene bonanza.
We at AK stand accused because we inherit juniors from schools while at their best and push them into the oblivion. In fact, the reasons why other juniors have decided to run for other countries is because they are not able to see light at the end of the tunnel.
PERFORMED EVEN BETTER
Something tells me that we would have performed even better in Oregon if AK was fully involved in the preparation of the juniors just three months before the event proper.
The parent association has the tendency of taking over the team two weeks before the world event and cashing in on the success to claim glory that should otherwise go to coaches at the grassroots.
The likes of Raymond Yator, who were very good as juniors, have failed to live their dream and in the process diverted into anti-social activities.
Many others that I will not mention here have been reduced to spectators despite winning medals as juniors. AK officials need to know that it is not enough just tagging along the juniors aboard first class and booking themselves in expensive hotels.
We all need to be seen to be working towards building a generation that will take over from the likes of Olympic champions Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase) and David Rudisha (800m).
Barnabas Korir is AK Nrb chairman ([email protected])
