Host Kenya football team has been drawn against Senegal and Mali in a tough in Group A of the Africa Deaflympics Ball Games Qualifiers scheduled to start in Nairobi on Saturday through to September 25.
GroupB Men has Zanzibar, Libya and Ghana while Group C -which is regarded as the event’s "Pool of Death"- has Nigeria, Zambia and Cameroon.
Group D Men will feature Somaliland, Egypt and Gabon.
The women’s football competition has attracted three teams all drawn in Group A featuring Kenya, Zanzibar and Ghana.
Kenyan Coach Ben Omukuba termed the pooling fair for his players.
“Our target, for now, is to qualify for the quarter-finals then take the knockouts as they come. The worst-case scenario for us- in my opinion- is winning one and probably a draw. But we are going for maximum points in both matches,” said Omukuba.
Today’s draws were conducted at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani’s Presidential Pavilion and witnessed by officials from participating teams.
Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports (CADS) President Mohammed Madoun who was in attendance expressed optimism ahead of the inaugural continental qualifiers adding that high-level action will showcase talent and pride of deaf culture.
“The Games in Nairobi should serve up great moments ahead for the deaf community in Africa. I am convinced that the qualifiers will identify competitive teams for the Defalypics in Brazil next year,” Madaun remarked during the announcement of draws at Kasarani.
Maudun also announced that the draws for basketball will be conducted on September 17 when their teams arrive.
Gordon Oluoch, Chairman of the LOC thanked all participants for honouring the inaugural Games in Nairobi.
“These are the high international standards that we expect in the Games following the successful conducting of the draws. We thank all and sundry for honouring the event in Kenya. We look forward to some scintillating action and may the best team represent us in Brazil for the Deaflympics next year,” he said.
Three countries have so far arrived for the Games. They are Cameroon, Egypt and Senegal.
Maudun added that Zambia, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, Libya, Zanzibar and Somaliland are expected in due course.
Football will be played at Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani.
Kenya names basketball team for Africa Defalympics Ball Games Qualifiers
Meanwhile, Kenya has named its final team of 24 basketballers who will represent the country in the Africa Defalympics event.
The team will comprise 12 men and a similar number of women who will be based at Nyayo National Stadium for the Games.
Men's National Team Coach Charles Goro said the players are in good spirits and raring to go in the event being used as a yardstick to select African teams for the 2022 Defalympics in Brazil.
"Basketball is universal and success is dependent on talent. I know very little about the teams participating in the event. Apart from Uganda, we honestly don't know what to expect from the other countries," said Goro.
The point guards for the men's team are Calvin Musalia and Ndoro Chaka.
The shooting guards are Leakey Nyabaro, Jeorffrey Omondi and Brian Okiriing.
Small forwards are Elvis Ochieng and Wilson Kanda while the power guards department has Wilson Obange and David Ogogo.
Centres has a trio comprising James Ogeka, Caleb Kabaka and Fredrick Ochieng.
Football matches will take place at Moi International Sports Center Kasarani with basketball matches being held at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The ladies basketball team is being coached by Carol Ouma.