Stakeholders accuse KSF boss Ekumbo of complacency

Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) has been accused of failing to make arrangements or notify stakeholders of plans for the country to participate in the upcoming World Short Course Swimming Championships in Canada and CANA Zone III Championships in Rwanda.

A letter addressed to KSF President Ben Ekumbo by the chairman of the Stakeholders Forum, Thomas Opande, claimed the deadline for submission of names of participants and officials to the world event is about to elapse but no communication made to selected swimmers or their parents.

Kenyan swimmers missed the recently concluded African Swimming Championship that was held in Bloemfontein, South Africa with the stakeholders saying they were not informed the country would not send a team that local swimmers had been targeting and training for in the past season.

“It is with great concern that important swimming issues that are supposed to be prioritized by you and KSF have been left hanging causing unnecessary suspense and anxiety not only to swimming stakeholders in Kenya but also to the Regional, Continental and Global platforms.

“The national swimming team which was jointly selected by the Joint Selection Committee 3 weeks ago to represent the country in the WSC – Canada is yet to receive formal invitation letters to enable them start relevant logistical and training preparations,” part of Opande’s letter to Ekumbo read.

He further decried lack of commitment from the federation and last minute preparations that has hindered Kenya’s good performance in the regional and global arena.

“Everybody in the swimming fraternity is in suspense because of silence and unnecessary delays from you and KSF. The usual last minute preparations will result to the normal logistical planning challenges, swimmer performance related side effects and embarrassment to the whole nation,” Opande underscored.

Another member of the Forum, Shamla Fernandes called on Ekumbo to act swiftly and give parents and coaches enough time to prepare and release the swimmers.

“Schools and colleges require minimum one month’s notice to enable them to re-schedule exams, assignments and tests to allow students required time off.

“Swimmers need a lot more time to be fully prepared physically and mentally, yet no one has picked on the fact that it will be the middle of winter in Windsor when the World Short Course championships take place.”

Fernandes noted with the current turn of events, attending such competitions without proper preparation was shaming formality with the deadline for the World Short course set for midnight, Thursday.

Ekumbo and KSF came under fire in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympics when they were accused of locking out UK-based Rebecca Kamau and Ismail Ahmed Ismail who had attained B-standard qualification from the Games.

Their chosen swimmers, Hamdan Bayusuf and Talisa Lanoe failed to progress past the preliminary rounds of their events.

Ekumbo had not answered queries on the issue by the time of going to press.