Three athletics coaches in Kericho County have welcomed the re-opening of Sports in Kenya.

Gabriel Kiptanui, Paul Kemei and Hillary Cheruiyot observed that Covid-19 pandemic had hit Sports the hardest saying the resumption of the sector was a shot in the arm for the Sports fraternity.

Speaking separately to People Sport yesterday, the coaches lauded both the Health and Sports Ministries for re-opening Sports in phases to allow athletes to train and others to participate in available competitions.

They said the move has allowed athletes to finally begin training in groups while strictly adhering to the laid down protocols in a bid to beat the virus.

“Re-opening of sporting activities especially athletics has allowed us to begin training athletes in groups while strictly adhering to the laid down protocols aimed at checking the spread of the Corona virus and subsequently prepare for the future events,” said Kiptanui, the Kericho Athletics Training camp coach. 

Kiptanui said the athletes’ proper preparation in advance will enable the country to bag many medals in major competitions or championships across the globe.

The tacticians revealed that athletes have now embarked on training for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, the World U20 Athletics Championships slated for August next year in Nairobi and the Kip Keino Classic scheduled for next week at the Nyayo National Stadium.

“Following the resumption of sports in phases, we as coaches have now planned training for our athletes in small groups while strictly complying with protocols aimed at beating the virus.

We are alive to the fact that training in groups enable athletes to gauge their level of preparedness and fitness.

So we welcome the move by both Health and Sports Ministries,” said Kemei of Lemotit Athletics Training camp.

Cheruiyot of Sea Level Athletics Training camp said they were ready to stick to the measures aimed at stopping the virus spread while honing athletes’ skills at their training camps.

A week ago Sports Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed announced the re-opening of Sports where all contact sports will remain suspended as non-contact and outdoor sports action resumed in phases.