The Kenya Tong-IL-Mo-Doo national team ‘Jasiri’ is prepared to defend their title in the Mombasa Open International Championship slated for December 15 to 17 at the Agha Khan Academy Multipurpose hall Mombasa.
Speaking in Mombasa Monday morning where the team has been in camp at the Light International Academy School, the Kenya Tong-IL-Mo-Doo federation chairman master Clarence Mwakio said that the team is ready for the competition.
“We have over 50 players in camp both young girls and boys, and adults who will participate in sparing forms and special technics individually and as a team,”
“This year has been tough for the national team, however, spirits are very high and we hope to retain the championship trophy,” said Mwakio.
Mwakio said the team members have been training for the last one year in their respective clubs and the camp is to polish them and bring synchrony.
“We watching out against injuries because we cannot afford to get injuries almost a week to the tournament. We have the advantage of not travelling plus we are acclimatized to the weather so we expect to perform well,” Mwakio said.
Retaining the overall team title won’t be a walk in the park as Jasiri expects tough competition from other teams especially the Philippines and Iran.
Stiff competition is also expected from West Africa with teams like Nigeria and Central Africa with teams like Cote de Ivore and DRC Congo who have been eyeing the championship title.
Mwakio who also doubles up as the president of Africa Tong-IL-Mo-Doo Federation also said that they are happy that the government has promised to support the event with slightly above Sh100 million.
The federation chair said that the ministry responded to their request for sponsorship and assured them they will be together with them throughout the journey and many more activities in the future.
Mwakio expressed optimism to stage a classic and memorable event to close the year on a high note.
“We had requested Sh230 million for sponsorship and Sh45 million for the national team preparations. However, we were advised to scale down the budget and look for more sponsorship,”
“We are now looking at sponsorship of above Sh100 from the government. The deficit we have been able to get assistance from other partners and we believe we shall get more towards the end of the week,” he said.
The national team captain Elvis Malipe said that though they expect stiff competition, they have prepared well and are ready for the competition.
He said that the mood at the camp is good as players are in high spirit eagerly waiting to raise the national flag.
“Yes we expect tough competition this year, but we have prepared well because with tough competition the victory becomes sweeter”
“Let our opponents know that we are ready to defend our title for the 11th time in a row,” said Malipe.
