The Official Newsletter of the Kenya Table Tennis Association

Transforming Lives through table tennis

Kenya Table Tennis Association @KenyaTable www.tabletenniskenya.org

Vol-1 • Issue NO 3

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April 28-May 1, 2016Vol 1, Issue No 4 Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

TT FOR LIFE>>Kuria headed for Germany>>Masai girl with a vision>>Tucheze Tebo gathers momentum

the loop Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

FOREWORD FROM KTTA PRESIDENT ANDREW MUDIBO

2 KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION

As we usher in the second

half of the 2016 table tennis season, l take this opportunity to thank a group of dedicated officials and well- wishers who have

remained the driving force towards our vibrant series of activities. The KTTA National League and the French exchange programmes have not only been a true testament of the 'Tucheze Tebo" initiative but a platform through which several players from across the country have come together in true spirits of sportsmanship.In May, KTTA staged one of the greatest tournaments ever witnessed in recent times under the auspices of Kiambu County Government and received one of the biggest entries. The unswerving support by Governor William Kabogo saw players walk away with attractive prize money and massive trophies too. Thika International Tournament preceded an ITTF umpiring course which Michael Kuria passed with �ying colors. Kuria has now been selected to join Leipzig University in Germany for a 6 months coaching programme starting this August 2016 up to 31st January 2017. On Saturday 2nd July 2016, we held a KTTA Coach Certi�cation County Level 1 course at Goan Institute with over 30 coaches bene�tting from our partnership with MYSA, Sports For Tomorrow and Ping Sans Frontieres.In an effort to set up a uniformed coaching standard in the sport of table tennis locally and for Kenya to be able to be among the leading nations in the sport of ping-pong, the KTTA last year launched a Coaching Accreditation System, whereby all coaches in Kenya are required to undergone the three levels of coaching for them to be considered as coaches, who can coach within the Republic and after this to be able to attend any of the International Table Tennis Federation courses that will be held in the Country.The recent course was open to all players, teachers and former national team players who would want to learn the

basics of coaching which will see them being recognized by the Association as coaches.What's more, KTTA is partnering with top musicians in the country to deliver a signature tune which will be another �rst. The tune will be done by Calif Records making KTTA the only Sports Federation with a jingle.In October, KTTA will be holding two major events, the �rst one being a one day table tennis conference and the second one being the Chairman's Cup, which will be a fundraising event with proceeds from the tournament being used to donate equipment to deserving places. The Chairman's Cup will reach out to old table tennis players and officials to contribute what they can into a kitty that will be used to purchase equipment under “Tucheze Tebo” initiative. Still under the Tucheze Tebo, the �rst transformation day talk will be held during the month of July.Later in the year we will be holding an Annual Awards Gala to fete deserving ladies and gentlemen who not only made a mark in a busy season but burnt the midnight oil to ensure they made a difference in the sport.I must admit that the outcome of the League has surpassed our expectations in as far as young budding talent is concerned. We have seen very young secondary school and college students feature prominently and played their hearts out on the table. Players from Kitale drawn from St. Monica Girls and St Joseph Boys and Nakuru- composed of a sizable chunk from Menengai School -have displayed scintillating skills. Just the other day we had our third player in Josiah Wandera headed to France for the ongoing exchange program and this is a matter of nurturing talent to desirable levels.As player morale continues to steer the sport to greater heights let's enjoy yet another half year of activity and success. It's our hope that Kenya shall again rise amongst the top playing nations in Africa and play competitively again at continental and regional level. Last but not least, KTTA will continue providing opportunities to everyone based on merit.

TUCHEZE TEBO

“The signature tune will

be done by Calif Records making KTTA the only Sports Federation with a

jingle”

EDITORIAL TEAM:MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Mudibo EDITOR: Samson AtekaPHOTOGRAPHY: KTTA Media TeamCover Picture: Stafford OndegoPublished by the Media and Communications Department of KTTA

the loop Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION 3

Bachelor of Arts Economics student Michael Kuria has attained I nternational Table Tennis Association White Badge status after seating

and passing the International Table Tennis Federation Umpires Exams. The Loop talked to the Kenyatta University student on wide-ranging issues and this is what he had to say.

Q: what was the feeling like when the news broke out in regards to your new status?A: It was such a great feeling, I must admit, one of the rare achievements by any standards at home. I must say at this juncture that it hasn't sunk in yet! We did the ITTF Africa Region 2 course with the International Table Tennis Federation Course Instructor, Mr. Ronald Mugwanya and I must admit his facilitation was out of this world. The content was rich and detailed. When a follow up of the course was done during the Thika International Open, it was an added advantage as there was so much we could relate and grasp from the tournament, before the IU exams.Q: And when the news suddenly broke what was the situation like?A: I was utterly excited but somewhat anxious to lay my hands on the coveted credentials. So this changed from being excited to being anxious.Q: So will you quit playing now that you have been elevated to bigger things?A: I can assure you that I will continue playing for as long as I can set my backhand and forehand into motion. But then I will focus more on coaching and umpiring. Don't also forget that I am a level 1 KTTA coach.Q: Things are moving really fast for you yet you are still a Young Turk in table tennis?A: Its the grace of the Lord! The essence is seeing those behind me making it to the apex of the game in an enabling environment. When I see diminutive players like Anne Marie toiling and trying to do their thing from a very humble background I get motivated to achieve more and more hence my interest in officiating. Players like Anne Marie Nasieku can go far with good nurturing and support.Q: So how has you your academic life affected your involvement sport?A: First and foremost, being a fourth year student in BA Economics it becomes really hectic academically but again it’s how you plan your schedule. Sport entails discipline and determination, so the same trickles down to academics. But as the old Chinese adage goes, a thousand miles journey begins with a single step- so it’s a step in the right direction.Q: Who is your role model in table tennis?A: I would say Ronald and Mudibo. They both share a number of similarities in the sport and are experienced International umpires.

Q: So tells us more about your life as a player?A: I play for Kenyatta University team because I'm a student there and have to give back. But my �rst love Club is St Teresas which has over the years churned out players of national repute among them Victor Ouko, Pascal Mutinda and many more; so this make me feel at home any time I loop the ball and just can't shirk from supporting them....so its St Teresa's for life.Q: So, how do you balance between academics and sport?A: Its all about sacri�ce and planning, so there are no two ways about it.Q: Who else played Tebo in your family?A: None. I'm a �rst generation player in our family so there is always that urge to perform and set the record straight to your siblings and create a culture of hope and inspiration to make a difference in sport.

MICHAEL KURIA SAVORS ITTF WHITE BADGE STATUS

“I can assure you that I will continue playing for as long as I can set my backhand and forehand into motion. But then I will focus more on coaching and umpiring.”

the loop Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

4 KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION

ike most underprivileged Lwomen in African nations, quite a big chunk of Masai

young girls in Kenya are destined to live a life of poverty and cultural oppression.For many years a paltry Masai women in Kenya enrolled in school. Today, even with free primary school education in Kenya which was in force in January 2003, only 48 percent of Masai girls enroll in school, and only 10 percent of girls make it to secondary school.Kenya national ladies team player Bahati Ru�na has indeed de�ed all odds and savors the opportunity table tennis offered her. She is now a Masai girl of national repute having represented Kenya at the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville, thanks to the Tucheze Tebo initiative earmarked to produce talented players across the country as well as transform lives of young budding individuals.Ru�na is one of the best lady players

in Kenya at the present. She honed her table tennis skills in cradle of ladies table tennis, St Monica Girls School, which under coach Justus Gichuki has produced gifted players of the likes of Gloria Sigowo and Valencia Cheptoo-just to name but a few.'I'm glad I realised my potential in table tennis on such enabling environments like st Monica. Coach Gichuki has been a true inspiration from the word go. Schooling and playing in an atmosphere which gave rise to Kenya's top lady players is what makes us return to the game time and time again," says the humble girl from Loitoktok. As coach Gichuki would put it, the global �ght for gender parity is predicted to take at least many more years, but through initiatives like Tucheze Tebo, sport can help us speed up the clock by vaulting women onto a more level playing �eld.

LOWDOWNName: Bahati Ru�na DOB: 20/7/1997 Hometown: Loitokitok Hobbies: Reading novels, traveling Year Commenced Playing TT: 2013 National team debut: 2015 /Represented Kenya in the All African G a m e s h e l d i n C o n g o BrazzavilleLast Major Tournament: Thika international OpenRole Model: Ma long - a Chinese player

MASAI GIRL REALIZES HER POTENTIAL IN ‘TUCHEZE TEBO’ INITIATIVE

the loop Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION 5

KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS AS AT 19TH JUNE 2016

MEN :TEAM NAME PLD WON LST PTS POS City Table Tennis Club 6 6 0 18 1Kiambu County 6 6 0 18 1Team Nakuru 6 5 1 16 3Strathmore University 5 4 1 13 4Technical University 7 3 4 13 4Kengen 7 3 4 13 4Glory Outreach Ass 7 2 5 11 7Kitale 5 2 3 9 8Kenyatta University 5 2 3 9 8JKUAT 6 0 6 6 10Bunge 5 0 5 5 11

LADIES:TEAM NAME PLD WON LST PTS POSKenyatta University 5 5 0 15 1Strathmore University 5 4 1 13 2Team Nakuru 4 3 1 10 3City Table Tennis Club 6 2 4 10 3Bunge 5 2 3 9 5Kiambu County 4 2 2 8 6JKUAT 5 1 4 7 78Kitale Ladies 2 2 0 6 8Technical University 6 0 6 2 9

N A K U R U T O H O S T N E X T ROUND OF KTTA N A T I O N A L LEAGUE

he �fth round of the 2016 Kenya Table TTennis Association National League will take place at Nakuru's Menegai

High School on the weekend of July 23-24.The League, which has so far been to Makini School, St Monica Girls Kitale, Kenyatta University and YMCA Nyeri, will bring together top teams from across the country. City Table tennis and Kenyatta University currently lead the log in the men's and ladies categories respectively.City handled by John Ojiambo "Ojash" jointly lead the men's category with Kiambu who will be �elding veteran player Anthony Mathenge, Victor Ouko and Kevin Mafabi.Hosts Nakuru are placed third on both categories and anticipate some scintillating action on home turf."Standards have been set and only the sky's the limit. We are lining up a relatively young team that we hope will call the shots in the sport at the highest level in a few years to come," said Nakuru tactician George Kiringe.Kiringe who coached the Kenya team to the Final ITTF African Olympics quali�ers in Khartoum last February singled out Kevin Kingori as his best player.Kingori isan astute student of the game and incidentally the KSSSA national singles champion. He has been instrumental in Nakuru's impressive campaign on the log.KenGen, Glory Outreach of Nyeri, Bunge and Strathmore hope to also make an impact in the event which is part of Tucheze Tebo initiative launched in November 2016 to steer the game of ping-pong in Kenya to desirable heights. Bunge is one of the newest team in the competition and are hoping to end their season campaign on a high despite a slow start.KenGen and GOA -who are only represented in the men's category- hope to also �nish in a respectable position. KenGen will �eld the likes of Cosmas Onyango and national team's Peter Theuri.Strathmore has Kevin Mwangi while GOA will be skippered by AndrewMuchika.

Team Spirit: Kitale team during a past league event

id you know that football legends James Goro Oronge Dand Francis Kimanzi had a soft spot for table tennis back then and played the ping-pong game prominently?

Goro is a former Gor Mahia legend who currently resides in Kisumu. Goro who works with Kisumu County Government and sits in the KTTA Nyanza Branch was a man equally talented in table tennis. He still plays the game in Kimsca Games representing Kisumu County.Kimanzi played 'tebo' for St Teresas which is reputed for grooming a talented generation of players including the incumbent Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) Chairman Andrew Mudibo, who is incidentally the founder of the Club.Kimanzi was prominent for Mathare in the days of the late Coach Jonathan Niva but succumbed to the lure of football though never shirks from visiting the TT fraternity whenever time permits from his busy schedule.Kimanzi’s heroic rise in matters technical saw him become the Head Coach of Harambee Stars and other prominent teams in the KPL.Dutch trained Kimanzi was in March 2016 feted as the pioneer winner of the monthly Coach of the Month award.The award, which is an initiative of Sports Journalist Association of Kenya and Fidelity Insurance aims at rewarding outstanding coaches in the Kenya Premier League every month.

FOOTBALL LEGENDS WITH A SOFT SPOT FOR

TABLE TENNIS

the loop Transforming Lives Through Table Tennis

KENYA TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION 7

Francis Kimanzi/PICTURE KPL

Junior’s Corner

Ann Marie NasiekuBirthday: 8/10/2006School: Moi Air Base Primary SchoolHobbies: Playing table tennis, swimming, traveling and footballClub: St TeresasClass: Four

Goan Institute Nairobi was the venue for much-awaited Level 1 basic coaching course, thanks to Ping Sans Frontieres of France, Sports For Tomorrow, Mathare Youth Sports Association and the Kenya Table Tennis Association for making the initiative possible.The 30 who attended the course were imparted with the requisite skills of the game and are anticipated to kick start an elaborate coaching program which targets less privileged school going kids more so in Eastlads region under the now vibrant "Tucheze Tebo" initiative launched in November 2015 to bolster the structures and standards of the game countrywide.Ping Sans Frontiere have donated trophies which will be at stake in a tournament which will be held under the program. Course facilitator Michael Kuria revealed that the enthusiasm generated from the event was overwhelming."We took participants through a series of drills geared towards making the game enjoyable to kids and it entailed the amount of patience required while handling children. We are optimistic that the knowledge gained from the course will go a long way in whipping-up the enthusiasm of kids from the targeted regions," said Kuria.Coaches will go back to the grassroots to implement whatever knowledge gained in today's event.Ping Sans Frontieres has over time been donating playing equipment and kit to KTTA speci�cally for less privileged kids from various regions.Among those who have bene�tted from Ping Sans gestures are a young team of boys and girls from City Table Tennis Team, Kitale team, rising girl player Annemarie Nasieku from the St Teresa's production line and the list is endless.MYSA is one of the centres KTTA has identi�ed as a breeding ground for school going girls under the Sports For Tomorrow partnership with KTTA.

OVER 30 COACHES BENEFIT FROM SPORTS FOR TOMORROW, MYSA & PING SANS FRONTIERES

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