Kenyan legends mentor juniors at high profile Kanbis boot camp in Eastleigh

Young players taken through cricket skills at the second edition of the Kanbis Holiday Cricket Training Camp at Eastleigh High School in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Over 200 young players are gracing the ongoing high level Kanbis Holiday Cricket Camp at the Eastleigh High School in Nairobi.

Taking the children through paces in the intense three weeks training are former Kenyan greats Martin Suji assisted by Jimmy Kamande.

Also involved in the mix are current national team players Nelson Odhiambo, captain Rakep Patel and Emmanuel Bundi.

Other age group coaches in the support are former national team wicket keeper David Asiji, Margaret Banja, Martin Okoth, Joshua Oyieko and Paul Anjere.

The camp, now in its second edition, is being used to introduce the youngsters to the game and to help expand their skills, with an aim of producing the next elite group of players in two years.

The training sessions involve both practical and theory lessons for the players divided into the age groups 9-11, 12-15 and 16-19.

"Since I came here on Monday, I have learnt effective bowling and batting, we have also been taught how to live healthy and keep fit," 13-year-old Tracy Nduku, a Grade 8 pupil at Swaminarayan Academy in Embakasi, told Standard Sports.

Her sentiments were echoed by 10- year-old Dweej Gautam, a Grade 5 pupil at Swaminarayan Academy in Langata, saying: " I have learnt lots of things here, previously I used to chuck a lot in bowling, but now I can do the full arm-strength."

Kamande, who captained Kenya at the 2011 ICC World Cup in India, hailed the boot camp saying it's a new dawn for Kenyan cricket.

"Having good cricket here is our goal. The children are being taken through different lessons everyday, the drills incorporate various aspects of the sport; from bowling, to fitness, game analysis, knowledge, fielding among others," underlined Kamande, who  returned to Kenya recently after guiding Tanzania to a respectable ICC ranking and introducing them into the 50 Overs international cricket.

Jay Varsani, the Silmet Industries Limited Managing Director, said they are glad to have injected support which is boosting the players in the training.

"Last year, our support was to the tune of Sh750,000, this year we have given out Sh1 Million, it is good that the camp is nurturing the youth and bringing out new talent to the country and as Silmet, we are happy to support the training because it is line with our vision which is to promote skills and talent to national and global levels," stated Varsani.

Former Kenya U19 captain Rajim Sangani has also mentored the players before he jetted back to his base in the US.

While inspiring them to keep focus, both in sport and in school, Sangani said: " Kanbis is in my heart, it will forever be home.

"I'm impressed with what is going on here, seeing over 200 players at the camp is a true indication that the sport is well taken care of both at the club and at the national front in the near future."

Former Cricket Kenya Vice Chairman and Kanbis Sports Club Trustee Shamji Patel noted that the club is in the process of celebrating it's golden jubilee and having an effective cricket camp and an academy to boot will be among the good things to boast about.

"As Kanbis, we strongly believe in the development of cricket and this is the secret to our churning of good players to the national teams, and one of the ways to do that is to have this training camp every August," stated Patel.