Asumbi TTC quartet, which bagged gold in the women's 4x400m relay at Kisii University/ANGWENYI GICHANATeam Nyanza says it is ready to challenge for top honours at next week’s Kenya Teachers’ Colleges Sports Association (KTCSA) national athletics championships set for Kisii University.
KTCSA Nyanza region chairman Timothy Atuti expressed confidence in the squad selected during the regional championships, saying the team is determined to use home advantage to challenge traditional powerhouses Western and Rift Valley for the overall title.
“We selected a strong team during our regional championships that is ready to challenge Western and Rift Valley for the overall title. We want to take advantage of the home-ground advantage to lift the title,” said Atuti.
Team Nyanza is currently holding a three-day residential camp at Asumbi Teachers Training College in Homa Bay County as part of final preparations. “The three-day camp is critical because it will help our athletes sharpen their skills. It will also help our athletes to bond and work on teamwork, especially in relays,” Atuti said.
Addressing athletes during the camp, Atuti challenged them to maintain discipline and remain focused on the overall objective. “We have confidence in you. During the nationals, we want you to challenge for the overall title,” he said.
Atuti, who is also the Chief Principal of Borabu Teachers Training College, said preparations for the championships are complete ahead of the teams' arrival on Sunday.
“We are ready to receive the teams on Sunday. On Monday, we shall have coordination clinics, and the action will run from Tuesday to Thursday,” he said.
The championships will also mark the introduction of tug-of-war as part of the competition. However, Atuti expressed concern over the ongoing heavy rains, which could disrupt activities.
“It has been raining heavily for the last few weeks. We hope it will subside next week,” he said. Hosts Asumbi head into the championships in strong form after successfully defending the Nyanza regional KTCSA title under Chief Principal Stella Sikuku. Asumbi collected 34 medals overall, including 10 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze, to emerge regional champions.
Kenyenya Teachers Training College finished second with 28 medals — five gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze — while former champions Migori Teachers Training College placed third with 14 medals comprising five gold, three silver and six bronze.
Borabu Teachers Training College also finished with 14 medals — five gold, four silver and five bronze. Asumbi won the women’s inaugural regional tug of war title while Borabu claimed the men’s crown ahead of the national debut of the event.
