Athletics Coaches call for NOCK disbandment

The Kenya Athletics Coaches Association (KACA) has declared the National Olympic Committee (NOCK) a disappointment and a failure following the shambolic mishaps that rocked Team Kenya during the just concluded Rio Olympic Games, calling for its immediate disbandment.

The association also wants Sports Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Hassan Wario, to resign for ‘failure to fix pertinent issues’ that squarely fall in his docket.
Speaking during a resolution meeting held in a Nairobi hotel, the association’s chairman Francis Kamau lamented the lack of professionalism in handling of Team Kenya saying the poor management tainted the legacy of Kenya’s athletics and cost the country several medals.

“We strongly condemn the embarrassment that legendary coach John Anzrah was put through. Coaches have vowed that in future, they will not release any of their athletes to compete in championships manned under the current NOCK leadership and are hereby calling for its immediate disbandment,” Kamau forewarned.

“The Ministry of Sports headed by CS Wario has been a disappointment and he should duly be held responsible since the backline stops with him. It is a shame for him to say he was a victim of circumstance in Rio yet he is supposed to oversee a smoothly run sporting event,” the veteran middle and distance races coach charged.

Wario is on record saying he has no jurisdiction as far as the final decision on who makes the team is concerned; including coaches, athletes and other members of delegation.

The CS was exonerating himself of the claims he turned a blind eye as ‘joyriders’ travelled to Rio while legitimate stakeholders struggled to make the cut or get the requisite accreditation to stay comfortably in the summer games.
“We feel more medals could have been won had the athletes and selected coaches been accorded professional treatment. The unfortunate events that surrounded Carvin Nkanata, Catherine Ndereba, Joseph Mosonik and Mark Baraton were a disgrace for a great sporting nation like Kenya.”

The Coaches made public their intention of meeting President Uhuru Kenyatta to air their plight and frustrations.

“We want to tell the President the truth that everyone keeps quite about; that the management of athletics is completely messed up,” the upset coaches stated.

They added that they should be part of the technical bench that selects coaches who accompany athletes to major events, complaining the exercise has always been rocked with corruption.

“NOCK owns no single athlete. In any case, we are the ones who have nurtured the likes of David Rudisha, Faith Kipyegon, Ezekiel Kemboi and the likes.”

One of the coaches who sought anonymity told Citizen Digital that despite a Parliamentary committee’s recommendation that certain officials who played part in the miserable 2012 London Olympics be banned from any athletics-related event, they have always remained regulars.

The coaches also advocated for more appreciation of their behind-the-scenes contribution in the shaping of the Kenyan athletic stars and in ensuring they bring glory home.

The 23-member-cast blamed their foreign counterparts in the country for increased doping cases and are seeking to have them barred from operating in Kenya unless thoroughly vetted.