2020: SPORTS AMID A PANDEMIC

The year 2020 will go down in sports history as one of the most important years ever in the calendar of professional sport.Unlike the latter years where wars provoked by men and kin brought this important thread of societal fabric to a halt; this year mother nature  has struck.There is no wrath like mother nature’s.Seasons have been drawn to a close albeit cancelled altogether with crucial financial ramifications to all those involved in the Kenyan sport fraternity.

COVID-19 dealt a major dilemma to the fragile underbelly of Kenyan sports; management.Various professional leagues were caused to temporarily cancelled ongoing fixtures, some even suspended their various seasons with little or no professional discussions and deliberation many a times spelling doom to many Kenyan pro athletes who make a living from the already financially starved sports industry.

The highlight of disruption brought about by this unexpected pandemic more so is the subsequent cancellation of the East Africa Safari Rally by the World Rally Championship Organizing Committee.This prestigious global event was to take place in Kenya after a  18 year hiatus.Scheduled as the 8th round on the WRC’s calendar, it was schedule to take place from 16th to 19th July at the breathtaking Hell’s Gate National Park.The Rally has since been deferred to 2021 with the exact date set to be announced later.

Hours after the government announced the social distancing directive which included after Kenya announced her first case of Covid-19, Kenya Rugby Union became among  the first sport federations to indefinitely suspend the 2019-2020 season with immediate effect.Their subsequent decision to indefinitely cancel the entire season brought about a huge uproar from stakeholders in the rugby fraternity.What would become of the teams holding promoted spots in the Nationwide league for instance the anticipated return of the well re-known Strathmore Leos into the big fold?What would become of the concurrent relegation?Some feel that this boardroom decisions go against the spirit of sport with the cancellation meaning that there will be no promotion or relegation in any of the leagues with all teams remaining in their current division.

Kenyan football is staring at despair at a time where the corona virus has halted all fixtures in the Kenya Premier League.Even then many teams were operating on a shoe string budget with little avenues of income, lack of sponsors and a cash strapped league.Much has been said and written of how the players who have no choice but to depend on their on-field capabilities to get by on poorly negotiated contracts are cash cows of corrupt Football Kenya Federation officials.There is nothing premier about Kenyan football to say the least.The recent bail out by the government of Kenya offering a monthly stipend of Ksh 30,000 for the next 3 months for vulnerable KPL players is a good start however in stemming this rot eating into their welfare.A step in the right direction,however a lot remains to be done post Covid 19.

The football management in Kenya has deteriorated down to Sports Dispute Tribunal’s decisions to settle disputes that many a times seem like sibling rivalry.Kenya Premier League(KPL); a company in it’s own right; was formed to manage matters pertaining to the top tier league.It is in bad faith then that FKF comes and disrupts that sole mandate by announcing decisions like cancelling the 2019/2020 season that undermine the authority of KPL to carry out its’ functions.The limbo surrounding the end of term of the current FKF president is something that needs to be sorted out with immediate actions as per the directives of the SDT. It’s time to breath in new life into football in Kenya.Men whose integrity is not in question.Men who have the interest of the beautiful game at heart

Athletes have had to bore the brunt too of this pandemic.Cessation of travel and closure of borders has meant even the creme de la creme of Kenya’s athletes can’t fly our flag high in the top road marathons held in Europe’s most famous cities.Various closure has caused camps across the country to close shop.Many international athletes still remain in Iten though proving the their faith in Kenya’s terrains to prepare the most accomplished athletes across the globe.The World Athletics U-20 Championships Nairobi 2020 has since been cancelled following the onset of the pandemic.This event was set to be  crown Nairobi as a crown jewel of African athletic following the successful IAAF World Athletics Championships that were held in Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.

Use of technology by our athletes as a precursor of returning to full competitive action should be highly commended though.Various global international organizations are throwing their financial weight between our well re known athletes and offering them financial respite at at time where their main revenue streams are taking a hit.World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge alongside world half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor ran alongside Kenya Wildlife Society (KWS) Rangers on June 27th to mark the annual Lewa Conservancy Marathon; the first to be held virtually prompted by it’s cancellation due to the ongoing pandemic.This event drew a lot of international attention drawing participants from all over the world.This has set up the stage for the well publicized “Impossible Games“.In this competition Kenya’s 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot and Commonwealth Gold Medalist will lead a group of Kenyan team named Team Cheruiyot against a Norwegian team.Each individual runner will cover 10.5 kilometres alone so that the team completes a full marathon cumulatively.Such advances in sports technology is a good sign and should be adopted generally on matters health and nutrition going forward.It also speaks of Kenya’s prowess and marketability worldwide as a sports powerhouse.

In conclusion; no matter how much uncertainty lies ahead in the sports sector this is an important part of society that will signal the return of normalcy in an otherwise disrupted year.The return of many top tier leagues and sporting events is testimony to that.A sign of hope that we are winning in this war against a deadly virus.There is a silver lining in every cloud.This is Kenya’s time to correct sporting mistakes of the past, shred of harmful habits and tendencies.Post Covid 19, sports will definitely be viewed as an alternative income generator with the prediction of a tougher economy should we go by financial events at the moment.Let every stakeholder take this moment.Gather your thoughts.Lay down your objectives.Train hard.Eat healthy.Last but not least stay home,stay safe.Together we shall overcome!