Nairobi: Women Representative Cynthia Muge has vowed to monetize sports talents in an effort to economically empower the local youth. Muge said there were many people who can excel in sports but have not received any support to nurture their talents. ‘For long we have had the best sports men and women but their talents were not monetized but I assure, things must change this round,’ Muge said.

According to Kenya News Agency, she revealed that she was working closely with a section of Nandi leaders to ensure sports and many other talents are not only used for leisure but also upgraded to be a reliable source of income. She made the remarks during the launch of the Boso Supercup volleyball tournament in Kapsabet town, which her office has sponsored.

She said her move was motivated by the fact that Nandi has produced some of the finest national volleyball team players and coaches and that she needed to identify even more players from the grassroots who can be perfected for national and even international champ
ionship challenges. The tournament, which is expected to kick off from next week, has attracted 271 volleyball teams across the county, with the best winning teams in both women and men categories to take home Sh500,000.

Muge proposed that the stadium, which will soon be constructed in Kapsabet town, should have state-of-the-art volleyball and basketball courts to enable the young to showcase their talents. However, Gideon Tarus, the General Service Unit and a national volleyball team coach present at the function, expressed disappointment that drug abuse was ruining promising young volleyball players.

Tarus revealed that young athletes were using drugs with the conviction that doing so would enable them to perform exceptionally, not knowing they are destroying their bodies. ‘It is high time we come together and speak out about how drugs are ruining young talented Kenyans in sports,’ he suggested. The national volleyball coach further advised young talented sportsmen and women to consider pursuing their edu
cation, as it’ll help them in life skills and their talents progression.

‘I get disturbing calls from parents who gave us their talented children for upgrade but they end up getting lost in the city just because of little education or inadequate exposure,’ Tarus said. Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Bernard Kitur, also present, said that strengthening sports activities in Nandi village will make youths busy and keep them out of drugs.

Nandi County Members of Assembly, led by their Speaker Philemon Cheruiyot, promised to strengthen sporting activities in the county through legislation.