The first edition of the Special Olympics Unified Sports tournament in Africa was held in Makueni County as Kibwezi West Girls Unified Football team became the champions.
It involved female seven-a-side football tournament that were held last weekend at the KMTC grounds in Wote.
Unified sport involves equal number of athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) in the same team for training and competition.
Executive Committee Member Gender, Children, Youth Sports and Social Services Engineer Peter Mumo said that the sport involve equal number of players without disabilities and those with intellectual disabilities for training and competition.
The Sports Manager for Special Olympics Kenya Vincent Mungai said the sport is meant to encourage female athletes with intellectual disabilities in sports.
“Female have been left behind especially in sports. We are geared towards promoting inclusivity of females,” Mungai said.
Mungai added Makueni largely represented the country in Berlin during the 2023 Special Olympics Games and won several medals thus the birth of Nike partnership and the county.
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The tournament which took three days in Wote was officially closed on Sunday March 10 by area Governor Mutula Kilonzo together with county commissioner Henry Wafula.
The governor said that the game was on international level yearning to see the girls play in a better pitch. He congratulated them for having excellent ball control despite having intellectual disabilities adding that the games are meant to incalculate societal inclusivity.
“In Makueni we produce talent, there is true spirit of not leaving anyone behind and we will go on with that spirit. These girls are very talented,” Mutula said.
“Don’t be involved in criminal activities, avoid early pregnancies among other vices and above all use your talents carefully,” he added.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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