A total of 16 countries have confirmed participation at the continental Deaf ball games that will be held in Nairobi between September 11 and 25.

The Africa qualifiers in Football and Basketball for both men and women will be used as a precursor for the 24th summer Deaflympics Championships to be staged in Brazil next year.

Philemon Ekipotet and Martha Mumbua will be in charge of the men and women foortball teams respectively.

Ekipotet, tasked with the responsibility of coaching the men’s team, yesterday told People Sport that the team will be counting on home advantage to reign supreme during the championship.

“The selection exercise was concluded a while back. 

I can say we’re so far pleased with the squads we have named. We have managed to do a lot, in terms of proper preparations, training and playing tune-up matches.

I feel like the team is psyched up and ready to take on other African countries with the eye of making it to the global Championships,” said Ekipotet.

Hosting rights

Kenya was granted the hosting rights in 2019 following the successful hosting of the first ever Africa Deaf Athletics Championships (ADAC) in Nairobi, that year.

Then, the Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports (CADS) made the confirmation a few months later.

“CADS is happy to bring to your attention that during ADAC in Kenya, we had engagements with the Principal Secretary of Sports and the Cabinet Secretary of Sports, and in those meetings through our president Mohamed Madoun, CADS proposed that with the challenge Africa faces when it comes to hosting events, Kenya would offer CADS another opportunity by hosting Africa Deaflympics ball games qualifications,” CADS said in a letter sent to Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf .

“CADS is therefore happy to say that Kenya can go ahead and comply with the bidding process as per the host regulations of which once met, a greenlight to host will be given to host ball games,” added the letter.

Kenya’s bidding also received huge backing from the world deaf football governing body, Deaf International Football Association. (DIFA).

“10-12 men and possibly 5-6 women’s teams are expected to participate in qualifying matches,” DIFA President lakov Frenkel said in  letter addressed to KSFD back then.

Deaf Football Association of Kenya DFAK through its chairman Stephen Waweru  Said they elated with CADS nod and said they are still open to have more partners onboard to help  make the qualifications a success.