Nairobi: School children who live slum who hit the mesh in Nairobi are at the heart of the effort to save Kenya’s cricket from endless decisions, which are dipped by poor performance, government problems and political quarrels.
After the hero in South Africa in 2003, when Kenya became the first non-test state to reach the World Cup semi-final, the country’s cricket fell freely, with a slight sign of recovery.
But three brothers – all former Cricketers international – put up a fight by hijacking their income into a training academy aimed at rebuilding sports in Kenya from below.
Founded by the opening of the former Kenya Kennedy Otieno and his brothers David and Collins Obuya in 2006, Obuya Cricket Academy (OCA) offers training to children from low-income environments.
Hoping to find the next Steve Tikolo, a former Captan star and batting in 2003, and revived the sluggish fate of their national team.
“Youth development is in the heart of the cricket, and our focus is to open the door for less capable children …
to play the game to the highest level and keep hope to live,” said David Obuya, a former Wicketkeeper.
“The response has been extraordinary,” Obuya said, who was the head coach of Kenya’s cricket, with dozens of students aged between five and 19 years, every day at the Academy located on the outskirts of the upper class of Nairobi who were on the outskirts of the upscale city.
(AFP photo) Many parents are happy to sign their children for lessons, especially when the academy offers to pay their school fees and provide free lunch.
Apart from the financial constraints, OCA slowly grown, giving birth to the team in the Super League of Nairobi Province Super Association (NPCA) since 2019.
The Academy also functions as a breeding place by other clubs.
“As a family, we have found this very satisfying because we can inspire the next generation of Kenya Cricket players,” Obuya told AFP.
The league itself has received assistance from unexpected quarters, with the NCPA team recruited players from India.
Move Harkens back to the 1980s and 1990s when Kenya Cricket benefits from the presence of Indian sportsmen who signed the club in Nairobi to increase their chances of choice at home.
They include Gaekwad Ashuman and Patil Sandeep which then played for India, with Patil back to Nairobi in 2003 to train Kenya and bring it to the World Cup semi-finals.
“These are those who worship and breathe cricket,” said Head of NPCA Kanti Rabadia told AFP.
“What they bring to the game is discipline and professionalism less with local players.” (AFP photo) Currently Pushkar Hander India Sharma, Skipper at Ruarka Sports Club led to finishing it as the top scorer of the highest this season in the NCPA League.
Former Captain Cricket Mumbai Under-16 qualified to play Kenya after living in the country for six years.
“My goal (is) to play Kenya and help revive the Cricket game,” Sharma told Kenya-Cricket.com last month.
Back at OCA, the former Wicketkeeper Otieno said it would be more necessary to encourage young Kenya to take bats.
“Kenya is a country consisting of 50 million people.
If you only get five percent to play cricket, you will achieve what you gave to achieve and provide a national prospect sport,” he said.
“Unless we spread the game to the district (outside Nairobi), you will not see that growth.
The talent is hidden there.” Meanwhile Cricket Kenya struggled to clear his actions, following a sharp decline over the past two decades due to administrative malpractice and internal disputes.
Otieno’s young accusation was determined to make a miracle comeback.
“When I joined, I didn’t know I would still be here, and even play in the Super League,” said the All-Rounder Ken Mwangi teenager, who started training at OCA when he was only six years old and now is one of the rising stars .
“My dream is playing for Kenya in the future.”