Abdul Malik backs swimming squad to shine in Gold Coast

Kenya’s swimming team to the 2018 Commonwealth Games head coach Abdul Malik is upbeat his squad will bag medals, the lean squad being sent notwithstanding.

Kenya will send only five swimmers to Gold Coast, for the games slated for April 4-15, two of them on their debuts.

Abdul Malik, who was selected as the team coach after the national swimming trials at Kasarani Swimming Complex between February 24-25,  is confident the skills his swimmers have gained from their respective stints abroad will come in handy in the medal hunt.

“All the swimmers are based abroad where they are training. I communicate regularly with their coaches and I am impressed that the feedback is positive. We are expecting a good performance from these swimmers because they have prepared well and also they are in a good form,” he told Citizen Digital in a phone interview.

Issa Abdalla Mohammed who is training in the UK, the Bruenheler sisters (Sylvia and Maria) in Germany whereas Emily Muteti and Kevin Kimani are training in the USA.

Sylvia Brunlehner, Abdalla and Steven Kimani took part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland where they failed to shine. Sylvia’s highest finish in the Glasgow edition was 18th in the 50M free-style , as Abdalla finished 22nd  in the 100M butterfly category. Kimani on his side settled for the 17th position in the 200M back straw event.

Maria and Muteti booked their tickets to Australia to the Commonwealth Games after grabbing 758 and 750 FINA points respectively, where the FINA Point criteria was applied for the first time. Thus, the duo will be making their maiden appearances in the competition.

Adul Malick believes the facilities put in place and good planning will be key to the swimmers’ performance, comparing with the Glasgow uninspiring performance.

“It’s all about commitment, training and long-term investment and long-term planning. The structures that we have for our swimmers will make all the difference,” underscored the coach.

The coach wants the team to draw inspiration from Jason Dunford’s 2010 gold medal outing, when he emerged top in the 50M butterfly discipline.

Jason was the first Kenyan swimmer to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth game in the Delhi edition, India.