News of young teens and children from Nakuru excelling in sports to the level of playing for international teams has been increasingly coming up.

However, reflecting on how these young stars got here, their parents' guidance, or even coaches played a very big role in building a career in sports for these kids.

Let’s mention just a few champs who have put Nakuru on the map and are doing so well out there.

Remember 21-year-old Godson Chagema from Kivumbini, who flew to Manchester, England to undergo trials for Manchester United Football Club as a goalkeeper in 2021?

Godson Chagema (right) receives a dummy air ticket from former Nakuru sports CEC Sylvia Onyango ahead of his flight to Manchester.

Photo credit: COURTESY

Again, just last year, nine-year-old Annabel Mideva from the Shinners area represented Kenya in Zambia for the under-10- chess championship. She will be flying to Greece to do the same on April 13 from the international youth championships.

Nigel Waweru, a grade 4 student at Shah Lalji Nangpar academy is yet another child from this young city going out there to represent Nakuru and the country at large in sports.

Nigel Waweru and his coach David Okiyo during a practising session at Shah Lalji

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/ NMG

He will be participating in the taekwondo championships in Korea in July 2023.

It goes without saying that nurturing a child’s talent early can give them a career in sports and go a long way in developing them as strong and confident people who believe in themselves and their art.

Dr. Makanga Winston, Annabel’s father, notes there is a need for parents to help their children discover what they can do and most importantly, support them.

For him, he guided his two children on how to play chess, and when they got to the point of playing the sport competitively, he headed them off to professional coaches.

They have since been playing in national and international tournaments.

As a parent, Dr Winston takes pride in how good his children have become in what they do.

His advice to parents is, “try and reflect on what interests your child has, then see how you can support them through the journey”.

wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Young stars putting Nakuru on the global map

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Purity Kinuthia