Kakamega: The Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) President Justus Mugisha has praised the Government of Kenya for its commitment to developing quality sports facilities. Speaking to KNA during the ongoing East Africa school games competitions in Kakamega, Mugisha highlighted the long-term benefits of the well-established infrastructure for Kenyan athletes and visitors alike.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mugisha also commended the county government of Kakamega for its warm reception of participants in the East Africa games. He indicated that the positive experience could lead to Kakamega County being considered for hosting future editions of the FEASSA games, contingent on fan conduct during this year’s event. “If these games end very well and you continue to behave well, especially the fans of Kakamega, we are likely to give you another chance in the coming years,” Mugisha assured.
The tournament has attracted over 4,000 students from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ivory Coast, with Kenya contributing over 1,800 students, followed by Uganda with more than 1,600 participants. “The quality of infrastructure being used, the fields are first class and I can assure you the students are enjoying themselves. The quality of play is very high,” Mugisha noted.
Mugisha emphasized the potential of the East Africa school games to transform the region into a sports powerhouse, as evidenced by the proximity of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to qualifying for the second round of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for the first time. He pointed out that many players competing in CHAN have previously participated in the school games, suggesting that continued investment in such events could elevate the region’s performance across all 19 sports contested this year.
To nurture more talent, Mugisha called for increased student participation in sporting activities. “The participation has increased and for us in schools we believe in what we call mass sports because the more the students are introduced in the sports, the more competition they participate in, then the more likely that they are going to become very good,” he explained.
He advocates for every school to ensure that all learners have access to sports competitions, which allows them to explore various talents beyond academics. Mugisha expressed a commitment to including South Sudan in future championships, despite their absence this year.
Kenya’s dominance in the East Africa school games was highlighted, with the country historically winning most sports disciplines. “The last four competitions have all been won by Uganda, so this year I can see very big competition between not only Uganda and Kenya but Tanzania is also coming up strongly,” he added. Mugisha remarked on Kenya’s impeccable record of winning overall championships when hosting the FEASSA games, noting that the country has never lost on home soil.