Former National team swimmer Jerry Collins with the ball for Y Lagoons on Sunday during a water polo exhibition match at the Mpesa Foundation
Kenya Aquatics has partnered with a team of swimmers from Serbia to introduce water polo in the country adding that plans are now underway to develop the new venture with local championships and later international competitions, a diversification from traditional Swimming for all and sundry to enjoy.
Speaking on Sunday at the Mpesa Foundation in Thika town Kiambu County , federation Secretary General ( SG) Collins Marigiri emphasized that his team is committed to the challenge and is ready to pump in the required resources to develop the sport further.
” We now have a working partnership with our friends from Serbia who are willing and ready to provide the necessary coaching of the technical aspects of water polo as we slowly develop the sport in the country, ” said Marigiri who encouraged teams to start training as he organizes the first ever water polo tournament in the country slated for Eldoret town, this coming August at a date to be announced later.
According to the SG, the introduction of water polo in Kenya will provide alternative competitions especially to aged national team swimmers who have retired and create other employment opportunities in coaching, officiating and management.
” We are going to have a meeting with our guests from Serbia with the main objective being to embark on coaching and officiating clinics that will equip coaches and umpires with the necessary skills and knowledge that will in turn be transferred to the swimmer and develop the sport,” finalized Marigiri.
Marigiri has expressed confidence in growing the sport as he now targets to form a national team by December this year that will be ready for invitational competitions starting January 2025, his challenge though will be the limited sporting infrastructures currently available in the country that hinder local clubs to train better with his other option now being to entice private institutions that have the required facilities to the sport.
