Kenya Deaf Women’s basketball team coach Mary Chepkoi has stressed on the importance of having the team play more competitive matches if it is to perform better at major championships.
Her remarks come after the team’s campaign in the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics ended on Wednesday without a single win.
Kenya were drawn in Group “A” alongside giants Australia, Lithuania, and Italy while Group “B” comprised Greece, Ukraine, Japan.
Group “C” members are Chinese Taipei, Turkey, United States of America, and Poland. Kenya endured a difficult campaign in the group matches, losing 104-30 in their opener before suffering a 114 -42 defeat to Italy.
In their final pool match, Kenya fell 90-33 to Lithuania.
“We always get better towards the end of the tournament. I think we need more games before coming for such a tournament,” said Chepkoi after their last match against Lithuania. Apart from overhauling the team, she said they would seek to register it in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Women’s Leagues.
“Hopefully we will get to register the team in the Nairobi Basketball Association League to play with the hearing as they climb up to the KBF ladder. That way, we will improve,” said Chepkoi, who is also the coach of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Women’s basketball team nicknamed “Lynx”.
“We need to go to high school and get younger players; we are not saying that we are chasing the older ones out but we want to help them exit and transition to maybe coaches and referees and then we bring in younger players. That way, we will be able to compete with other teams,” she added.
Addressing the players in Tokyo, Jaxon Indakwa, the Director of Sport at the Ministry of Sports promised the government full support towards building a stronger team.
“I know you have not had exposure because the Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf has had challenges. But now those challenges are over and by the time we reach the next Deaflympics Games, we must have a competitive team,” said Indakwa.
Meanwhile, Kenya on Thursday made its debut in swimming at the Deaflympics with the team’s captain Francis Gichuhi and Suheib Jimale competing in the 100m backstroke.
While Gichuhi was disqualified for making a wrong turn, Jimale did not impress with his time. They have vowed to return stronger in the next competitions.
“It was really tough; I have seen other countries doing good and I’m hoping to do better in my next competition. My goal was to get a medal but I have tried my best. I have learnt that I need to practice more especially on the wall turn because that is where we have had a huge challenge,” said Jimale, who also competes in 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle.
Gichuhi said: “This was my first experience in the Deaflympics and I was very surprised at the way the competition has been. There is a lot of pressure but I hope I will do better in the next event. I was expecting to do my best and I know I have done exactly that even though 100m backstroke is not my specialty.”
He competes in 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke.
On her part, the team’s coach Irene Kerubo exuded confidence that the two swimmers will bounce back in their upcoming events.
“The start was good and maybe the pressure of competing in such a big event made them lower their speed. I know they will do better in the coming events,” said Kerubo. On Friday, the Kenya men’s deaf handball team will face Germany in the quarter-finals