This archive report was first published on 2 September 2021.
On September 11-25, Nairobi will host the 2021 African Deaflympics Qualifiers, a historic moment for Kenya's deaf football team.
Assistant coach Eric Otieno believes the team has what it takes to cause an upset on their debut in the competition, citing their two-week residential training camp as a key factor.
"This is going to be a historic moment for the national deaf team," Otieno said. "It is the first time the national team is being formed, and the boys are really happy about it because we are launching something that has not been there in this country."
Team captain Bashir Yaye echoed Otieno's sentiments, expressing the team's readiness for the championships and their determination to perform well.
"We are more than ready for the championships," Yaye said. "Unlike the past where we only had one week of training, this time round we have been in camp for almost two weeks now, and everybody is in good shape."
The tournament will feature both men's and women's football and basketball teams from Mali, Cameroon, Gabon, Zanzibar, Senegal, and Libya, among others.
