Mount Kenya University, in partnership with Kenya Sports Association for Visually Impaired (KESAVI), on 14th and 15th march, 2025, hosted National Goalball championships at Thika Main campus.
Goalball is adapted volleyball and handball for blind. It is played by six (6) persons, with three (3) persons on each side. Every participant must wear eye-blinders/blindfolds to minimize any chance of seeing the ball coming, since a player is supposed to depend highly on the sense of hearing. This game can be played by both men and women and children of over 10 years. A goal/point is earned once the opponent team throws the balls and passes the goal line/hits the goal-net.
Among the attendees were teams from;
- Kenya Society for the Blind
- KESAVI
- Mount Kenya University
- University of Nairobi
- Thika School for the Blind
- Machakos TTC
- Likoni School for the Blind
- St. Francis (Kapenguria) School for the Blind
The aim of these championships is to nurture the skills and enhance tactics in goalball and mentor persons with visual impairment to take part in co-curricular activities. During these championships, most promising and/or tactical players/teams are selected to make up a National team to represent the nation (Kenya) in African or inter-continental competitions like Paralympics.
MKU men and lady’s teams both emerged in the 2nd runners-up. Likoni School for the blind boys were the winners while KSB (Nairobi) lead in the women’s team.
Speaking during the closing speeches, Mr. Samson Waweru, (CEO) Kenya Society for the Blind-KSB and KESAVI official representative noted that, the tournaments are meant to revamp the dormant talents as well as preparing a national team, to represent Kenya in Paralympics in near future.
KESAVI is encouraged PWDs to be actively engaged in other sports like weight-lifting, blind archery, showdown, wheelchair handball/racing among others.
Next championships will be hosted at University of Nairobi on March 25th, 2025.
~ John Mwangi Ndung’u, Coordinator, Persons Abled Differently
