NSSF's 35m sponsorship boost for London Team

The National Social Security Fund, NSSF are the latest to join the London Olympics bandwagon with a massive Ksh. 35m sponsorship boost towards the Kenya team. NSSF on Tuesday boosted the Olympics kitty that now stands at about 50m towards the Kenya team training and preparations for the London Olympics.

“We recognise the important role our athletes play in promoting the country that is why we have come to support their preparations for London,” said Adan Mohamed Chairman, NSSF which has in the past organised investment workshops targeting athletes and advising them to save their earnings through financial situations.

“We supported the All African Games team last year so this is a continuation of that.” NOCK chairman,Kipchoge Keino was thrilled by the boost, which he said would help the team through their local and overseas training prior to the games that begin on July 27.

“For instance like now we may have to shift the athletes from the high altitude training centre in Iten to Nyayo stadium or Kasarani due to the wet conditions that have made it difficult to train in that area, “said Kipchoge.

NOCK is currently reviewing its original budget of Ksh.386m that had been drawn for a team of about 120 to the Olympics and Paralympics Games, due to the low numbers of qualifiers besides athletics.

The Government has pumped in Ksh. 200m towards the Games budget with Procter and Gamble giving in 5m. Kenya Airways and Kenya Charity Sweepstakes expected to boost the kitty with Ksh.10m each.

Besides the swimming duo of Jason and David Dunford, only one boxer managed to qualify at the just concluded African qualifiers in Morocco.

This week the focus will be on the female boxers who will be seeking the elusive Olympic tickets in Beijing and the table tennis team of four that will be Doha.

“We also the 4 by 4 relay team that qualified in Daegu and Julius Yego the javelin thrower who has hit the B qualifying standards,” added  Stephen Arap Soi,the Kenya Team Manager to the London Olympics.

Athletics which will form the bulk of the Kenyan team to London, will hold its trials to pick their squad end of May 2012.

Evelyn Watta

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