NSSF secures Kenya’s Olympic dream with Sh35m sponsorship

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) chairman Adan Mohamed (right) confer with the firm's public relations manager Christopher Khisa (centre) flanked by National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) chairman Kipchego Keino on May 8, 2012 before handing over a cheque of 35 million shillings at Sarova Stanley. Photo/CHRIS OMOLLO  

 

By AYUMBA AYODI and ANN CHEPKEMEI

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) on Tuesday received a major shot in the arm in its preparations for the Olympic Games when the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) unveiled a sponsorship of Sh35 million for London-bound “Team Kenya.”

While receiving the donation from NSSF board chairman, Adan Mohamed, Nock chairman Kipchoge Keino said the donation is purely to prepare the athletes before and during the qualifying process.

However, Kipchoge said they are still Sh15m short of their Sh55m budget required to effectively see several disciplines through the London Games qualification tournaments and called on other government bodies and corporates to chip in.

“We cannot do without finance since this is what will help our athletes train better and get exposed,” the Olympics legend said.

“The standard of sports in the world has gone up because countries have invested heavily in their sportsmen and women by exposing them to quality training.”

Mohamed said NSSF was delighted to be part of the process that will prepare Kenya’s sportsmen and women for Olympic glory.

“Our sportsmen and women have made us proud hence we should take part in their campaign,” he said.

So far only table tennis and women boxers are yet to go through their qualification process. The teams are due to fly out on Wednesday for their qualifying tournaments in Qatar and China respectively.

Boxing is the latest sport to qualify a contestant for the Summer Games, flyweight Benson Gicharu.

Precisely, 269 athletes have struck Olympic Games qualifying times on the track.