Kickboxing official urges Kenya to invest in game to spur growth

Visiting World Kickboxing Federation director of the Middle East region on Friday called on Kenyan officials to invest more in the game in order to nurture talent and spur growth.

Mohammed Dessouki, who is also the president of the federation's Egyptian chapter, said in Nairobi during a training session for kickboxing referees drawn from East Africa region that Kenya has a wide pool of talented Kickboxers who should be nurtured in order to develop the sport in the region.

"There is much talent around that needs tapping and referees and coaches should be accorded proper training to spur the growth of the game," Dessouki noted.

"The referees are quick to learn and we in the Middle East will extend our support for the development of kickboxing around," the top trainer told Xinhua.

The referees who were drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan were trained in dress codes and duties of a referee mainly the safety of the fighters, verbal commands, different styles of combat and their rules, and rules covering the corner-man.

Other topics covered included protecting fighters from outside distraction, fouling, scoring, counting over a downed fighter, fight stoppage, announcing the winners as well as basic first Aid.

Dessouki, who holds Level A1referee's certificate, which is the highest in the world, will conduct a second regional kickboxing referees' training next February ahead of the second Xtra Kombat MUAY Thai Africa fight series to be held in Nairobi. Endit