Equipment delay a worry for tennis boss ahead of continental duty

Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) chairman Andrew Mudibo is worried that the equipments for the forthcoming ITTF Africa Continental Cup cum World Cup qualifier slated for Nairobi’s Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium from March 1-3 will not be cleared in time hence putting the preparations in jeopardy.

KTTA has just two weeks to finalise preparations for the event but this has been hampered by the delay in clearing the equipments.

The first consignment, 12 tables and perimeter boards arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last Friday but are yet to be cleared.

Mudibo, at the same time, expects more consignments from China and Germany to dock at the Port of Mombasa in the coming days but the delay in clearance is raising alarm.

The KTTA boss is now appealing to the Ministry of Sports to step in to help expedite the matter.

“The arrangements are ready. For the past two weeks, we have been concentrating on Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium though we had some challenges which we are addressing with the relevant authorities. We are also trying to fast-track the Government’s financial input,” Mudibo told Citizen Digital in a phone interview on Tuesday, adding that some well-wishers have stepped in to sponsor the event in kind but around Sh 10 million is still needed to cater for logistics.

Meanwhile, Team Kenya players Bryan Mutua, 19, and Sejal Thakkar (42) will be coached by former Swiss player Jan Berner. Berner will be assisted by former long-standing Kenya champion Fahd Daim and Michael Kuria who just completed a coaching course.

The Swiss coach is expected to jet in on February 23 specifically for the World Cup qualifiers.

“He (Berner) has been in the country before …we chose him because of the exposure and experience he has,” Mudibo said.

In a bid to popularise the sport, KTTA has said that there will be no gate charges for the event

“Gate entrance will be free during the entire period. Sports enthusiasts should, therefore, turn up in large numbers to watch Africa’s finest players in action,” Mudibo said.

Report by Charity Wanja and Lameck Aminga