More than 200 young athletes from different sporting disciplines have been enrolled into the Transcend Talent Academy in a major boost to youth talent development, with beneficiaries receiving education sponsorships alongside structured talent nurturing programs.
Among the beneficiaries are six volleyball players who earned scholarships under the Transcend Talent initiative, which seeks to combine education with professional sports development.
Speaking to the press after the selection exercise, Transcend Talent Academy Founder and Chief Executive Officer, 2012 Boston Marathon champion Wesley Kipchumba Korir, said the programme aims to identify, nurture and grow young talents from grassroots to the international arena.
“Our main goal is to develop disciplined, educated and competitive athletes who can represent Kenya both nationally and globally,” Korir said, adding that talent development must go hand in hand with education.
The selection event was crowned by a highly competitive Wesley Korir Volleyball Championship final, where Kaplamai Volleyball Team edged out Kiptanden 3–2 in a thrilling encounter played at the Zion Transcend Grounds in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County.
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Kiptanden took control early, winning the first two sets 26–24 and 27–25. However, Kaplamai staged a spirited comeback to claim the third, fourth and decisive fifth sets 25–10, 25–20 and 16–14 respectively, sealing the title in dramatic fashion.
Earlier in the semifinals, Kaplamai dispatched Cherangany 3–0, while Kiptanden battled past Domber 3–2 to book a place in the final. A total of 14 volleyball teams participated in the championship.
The tournament attracted prize money, with the winners taking home Ksh55,000. Teams that finished second, third and fourth received Ksh35,000, Ksh22,000 and Ksh11,000 respectively.
The volleyball championship sponsored by Wesley Korir and 2025 Valencia Marathon champion John Korir, called on young people to actively participate in sports as a pathway to talent discovery, discipline and career growth. The organisers announced that the championship will be held annually.
The education and talent sponsorship programme is a collaborative effort between Transcend Talent Academy, KCB Bank and the Kenya Academy Centre (KAC), reinforcing a shared commitment to empowering young athletes through sports and education.
By OSBORNE BENN
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