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• Sportsbeat Correspondent 4 days ago

Why there is need to strengthening athlete development

The four-day Sports Science Training Workshop officially came to a close on Thursady, with sports stakeholders reaffirming the importance of science, research, and innovation in improving athlete performance and strengthening Kenya’s sporting future.

The closing ceremony was presided over by Secretary Administration in the State Department for Sports, Evans Achoki, who challenged sports professionals to use the knowledge gained during the training to help build a stronger pipeline of champions in the country.

Speaking during the event, Achoki emphasized the need to invest in talent identification, athlete welfare, and modern sports science to ensure Kenyan athletes fully benefit from their talents both on and off the field.

The workshop brought together coaches, sports scientists, and sports administrators for intensive training on various areas including sports psychology, molecular adaptation, coaching approaches, and athlete welfare.

Participants who successfully completed the training were awarded certificates during the colourful ceremony, marking the end of the sports science phase of the programme.

A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya Academy of Sports and the Hungarian University of Sports Science.

The partnership is expected to strengthen collaboration in sports science research, athlete development, innovation, and capacity building, opening new opportunities for Kenya’s sports sector.

Officials noted that the agreement will help improve knowledge exchange and equip coaches and athletes with world-class skills and expertise.

The Kenya Academy of Sports was praised for its continued efforts in promoting research, nurturing talent, and empowering sports professionals through modern training programmes.

Stakeholders said the academy is steadily positioning itself as a key institution in building a science-driven sporting ecosystem capable of sustaining Kenya’s success on the global stage.

Among those present during the closing ceremony were KAS Council Chair Thuo Cege, Advisor in the Office of the Sports Cabinet Secretary Bernard Ouma, and heads of departments from the academy.

Organisers announced that the programme will now shift focus to sports research, which they described as an important tool in shaping the future of sports development in Kenya.