Kenya national Kabaddi team head coach Simon Kibura/ HANDOUT
Kenya’s national Kabaddi teams head to Zanzibar determined to cement their status among Africa’s leading nations as they fine-tune preparations for the Commonwealth Championships later this year.
The men’s and women’s teams completed their final training session before departing for the African Kabaddi Championships, where they will face Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and hosts Zanzibar among other countries.
Head coach Simon Kibura believes the tournament will provide the ideal platform to assess Kenya’s readiness before attention shifts to the Commonwealth Championships, scheduled for October 10-30.
“We have completed our final training before travelling to Zanzibar for the African Championships. After that, we will continue preparing another national team for the Commonwealth Championships from October 10 to October 30,” said Kibura.
The coach said Kenya’s immediate goal is to maintain its place at the top of African Kabaddi before challenging the world’s best. “First, we want to secure our position in Africa, then we can focus on the world stage. This will be my first international assignment as head coach, and my responsibility is to ensure the Kenyan flag remains flying high,” he said.
Although Kibura has been part of the national team set-up for several years, he described the championship as a major milestone after being entrusted with leading Kenya for the first time at an international tournament.
He also lauded the sport’s steady growth in Kenya, crediting improved government support following recent international performances. However, he urged sponsors and stakeholders to invest more in the sport.
“Every sport grows gradually. We appreciate that the government has started supporting us, especially after our previous competitions, but we still need more sponsors and more investment. Better financial support, improved facilities and enhanced player welfare are essential if we want to move to the next level,” he said.
Kibura revealed that the technical bench scouts talent through the Kenya Premier Kabaddi League and leading international competitions, including the Pro Kabaddi League, AIPKL and Nepal Kabaddi League, to ensure the national team remains competitive.
He admitted injuries remain a major challenge because of the physical nature of kabaddi, while limited access to physiotherapy and financial constraints continue to affect players, many of whom juggle national team duties with their livelihoods.
Despite those obstacles, Kibura is confident Kenya has assembled a squad capable of retaining its continental standing in Zanzibar and building momentum ahead of the Commonwealth Championships later this year.
