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Deaf | Deaf team joins Nairobi Provincial League

it was a unique opening game of the Nairobi Baskeball Association provincial league as Deaf teams joined league for the first time in history. Coached by Community Hero Award Winning Coach, Juma Kent, Deaf Queens succumbed 33-58 to World Hope but drew an applause from a good crowd in their first ever league action, while the men's side, Deaf Kings did not play their opener as their opponents failed to show up.

The losers, consisting of deaf players puzzled referees and fans alike when they put up such a spirited fight through out the entire minutes before losing with their heads held high. Hope's experience saw them rolled away to a 20-0 commanding lead in the first quarter, with Queens recovering in the second quarter, scoring 7-10 for a 30-07 halftime scoreline. The third quarter was also a good affair for them as they hanged on with Hope taking the ten minutes with a 20-10 difference. But undeterred, Queens showed what they are made of in the last quarter outscoring Hope 16-8 in the last.

Agnes Wangechi led Hope with 20 points while Mercy Bwore and Beatrice Juma combined for another 16 points haul. Anne Rose superbly led the deaf from the front sinking a game high of 20 points and Peninia Njeri, who hit their opening three pointer, shot nine points.

In a post game interview, a visibly elated coach Kent said that this was the beginning as he was determined to have the two teams play in the league so that they can feel here is where they also belong as part of the community.

Info: FIBA Africa/Dann OWere


MVP- Maureen Kalungi:Uganda School for the Deaf USFD	MVP-Emmanuel Ntaolana

B. Maina and Eunice Kata teachers at Aga Khan	Supporting L eader-Miriam Hamala of Crane High.

KSFD Officials with Kjell Gunna of DIBF	Some of the camps participants

Most Promising Girl- Constance Engefu of Aga Khan	Most Promising Boy-Alex Kiemba

CampCREW- Participants: Players, Teachers, Facilitators, Parents and organizers

Kenya played host to the first Deaf Youth Basketball Camp in Nairobi from 19 th -24 th of February 2007. The event that brought together participants from Kenya and Uganda targeted the age group 12-17 years and an equal number of 25boys and 25 girls. The clinic facilitated by Kent Juma - Interim Sports Director Kenya Sport Federation for the Deaf, Miriam Hamala - of Crane High School (Kampala, Uganda) and Kampala City Council Leopards (KCC Leopards) and Kjell Gunna - Secretary General Deaf International Basketball Federation who was also the Director of the camp.

The Participating schools from Kenya were Joseph Kang'ethe Primary (Deaf Unit) and Aga Khan Primary (Deaf Unit), while Representing Uganda was Uganda School for the Deaf (USFD) - Ntinda. The clinic aimed to introduce and develop fundamental basketball skills, socializing and exchange of ideas, educate and create awareness on social issues such as HIV/Aids.

Kenya was chosen to host the 1 st Africa Nations Championships in April - May 2008. This will be used as qualifiers for the Deaflympic Games to be held in 2009 in Taiwan . The Deaflympics is held every four years and comes after the Olympics and Special Olympics. Deaflympics is especially important to deaf as they are not catered for in any of the other Olympic Games due to their specialist needs.

Some of the challenges facing development of this sport in the country and region are the marginalization of this group of people and the apparent physical communication barrier. The clinic showed it's possible to achieve your hearts desires and goals if you are determined and have the will to push on..... Disability is Not Inability.

This clinic was made possible from funding from FIBA who availed their contribution to Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) who where the facilitators working in conjunction with Kenya Sports Federation for the Deaf (KSFD). Also involved were Sweden Basketball Federation and Stockholm Basketball Association who gave 84 basketballs, T-shirts, uniforms, assorted resource and instructional materials. Other sponsors included ministry of Education through the office of the Director of Quality Assurance of Standards (Special Education). Liverpool VCT Centres ( Nairobi and Mombasa ), Project Footprints, Global Sports Alliance , Kenya Sports Federation for the Deaf (KSFD), LSM - SDA Guest House, UNEP and St. Georges Girls Secondary School.