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Kenya's disciplined forces launch parallel taekwondo league

Xinhua, May 10, 2017 Adjust font size:

Kenyan Taekwondo participants who play for the disciplined forces on Wednesday launched a parallel league after the Registrar of Sports failed to recognize their federation because of factional wrangles.

Kenya Police Service taekwondo team manager, John Mureshe said they are not aligned to any faction fighting to control taekwondo in Kenya, and that all wanted is to ensure their players train and compete among themselves because it is from the four services where national team members are derived

"As members of the disciplined services, we feel disillusioned by the unending leadership wrangles at the federation and it is important for our players to be in competition to ensure they remain in top form," Mureshe said, adding that the final play-offs will be in October at the Department of Defense headquarters.

The Kenya Taekwondo Federation has been bedeviled by wrangles with two factions each claiming credibility as bona fide officials.

It is for this reason that the elections of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) failed to take place after the Sports Registrar, Rose Wasike, interdicted the federation, after which the latter went to court to stop the polls.

The league, which kicked off in Nairobi, will bring together teams representing the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Prisons Service and the National Youth Service (NYS) in a league format that will be played in a round robin layout.

Muresha said the participating teams will be accorded the opportunity to host a leg each, with the Kenya Police Service hosting the first event.

He disclosed that the next leg of the league will be held at the Kenya Prisons Training College July before the league moves to the NYS Training School in Gilgil in August before the finals, which are slated for Oct. 4.

"Wrangles are a challenge that will disrupt our players, especially at a time we want them to remain focused," Muresha added.

Edwin Lemiso of Kenya Defence Forces, who has already qualified for the World Taekwondo Championships scheduled for June in Korea, said he will use the league build-up ahead of the global event.

"I will remain focused to ensure I bring home the gold medal that I missed during the World Military games in 2015," he stated. During the military games, Lemiso settled for bronze medal. Endit