Joseph is a 25 year old student who started playing at college in 2008 when the coach asked him to come have a go at netball, given his height and athleticism. He had no idea how to play, yet within a year was playing and was the college captain. After 2 years studying at college he moved onto university and is now playing at Kenyatta university, where he studies a part time BA in English literature, and is due to finish in 2015.
He was voted, in 2010, the most valuable player in the Kenyan teachers colleges sport association netball championships.
He is a part time student and already has his teaching qualification. He has worked in a private school but was frustrated as there was no sport taught. He then moved onto another school where he is now actively coaching his and 2 other schools. He also umpires, but as yet is unqualified. He coaches groups of 50, 22 and 20 students. He has recently recruited a friend to help him coach but is doing most the work single handed.
Joseph came on NDT tour with us to Uganda this year and from day one was a wonderful addition to our family. He tells us “since I touched a ball, I cannot stop” – he loves his netball!
We have challenged him to develop more netball in his home region and consider inviting a UK tour party to Bungoma county next summer. Jules interviewed him about how it’s going 4 weeks after getting back from Uganda.
He was voted, in 2010, the most valuable player in the Kenyan teachers colleges sport association netball championships.
He is a part time student and already has his teaching qualification. He has worked in a private school but was frustrated as there was no sport taught. He then moved onto another school where he is now actively coaching his and 2 other schools. He also umpires, but as yet is unqualified. He coaches groups of 50, 22 and 20 students. He has recently recruited a friend to help him coach but is doing most the work single handed.
Joseph came on NDT tour with us to Uganda this year and from day one was a wonderful addition to our family. He tells us “since I touched a ball, I cannot stop” – he loves his netball!
We have challenged him to develop more netball in his home region and consider inviting a UK tour party to Bungoma county next summer. Jules interviewed him about how it’s going 4 weeks after getting back from Uganda.
The interview
Jules – Have you had a training session with volunteers yet?
Joseph – We had it on the weekend of 27 and 28 July, we were six. Our second meeting came on 3rd of August where we got three new volunteers and three from the maiden meeting sent apologies. The volunteers decided to have daily afternoon training. The number has grown to 17, as all his friends who were excited by the concept of NDT. Unfortunately they remain only men. We have been practising everyday this week and we decided to have a mini tournament amongst ourselves today (10 August)… it was so lovely seeing new people showing total transformation. Basically we go through the drills I learnt in Uganda with you people; netball rounders, ladders and all others.. then we play.
Jules – Who are the volunteers?
Joseph – We got outstanding volunteers that their names would be worthy noting down.
1.Musa Munyasia Barasa… Musa has been into Netball since 1997. He is a qualified umpire…he is our interim NDT Kenya group manager.
2. Joseph Olita Omekede.. that’s me…the secretary and coordinator of the group.. I’ve played netball since 2008 – and you know the rest.
3. Titoi Godfrey. Capt
Jules – What are your plans now?
Joseph – we want to really know the game as a group and in September with your permission, we can have the group divided up and visit selected primary schools in the afternoon during games time and introduce the program. We can have a tournament after two weeks. Games time starts at 3:10 pm here in Kenya.
Jules – Great. Do you have primary schools prepared to welcome you? And will they give you time?
Joseph – yes, we got primary schools that are very ready to like.. we actually run our sessions now in one of the primary schools… They will be ready to give us time also.. sports forms part of the Kenyan education curriculum.
Let’s watch this space and come back in a month or so to see how they’re doing…
Jules – Have you had a training session with volunteers yet?
Joseph – We had it on the weekend of 27 and 28 July, we were six. Our second meeting came on 3rd of August where we got three new volunteers and three from the maiden meeting sent apologies. The volunteers decided to have daily afternoon training. The number has grown to 17, as all his friends who were excited by the concept of NDT. Unfortunately they remain only men. We have been practising everyday this week and we decided to have a mini tournament amongst ourselves today (10 August)… it was so lovely seeing new people showing total transformation. Basically we go through the drills I learnt in Uganda with you people; netball rounders, ladders and all others.. then we play.
Jules – Who are the volunteers?
Joseph – We got outstanding volunteers that their names would be worthy noting down.
1.Musa Munyasia Barasa… Musa has been into Netball since 1997. He is a qualified umpire…he is our interim NDT Kenya group manager.
2. Joseph Olita Omekede.. that’s me…the secretary and coordinator of the group.. I’ve played netball since 2008 – and you know the rest.
3. Titoi Godfrey. Capt
Jules – What are your plans now?
Joseph – we want to really know the game as a group and in September with your permission, we can have the group divided up and visit selected primary schools in the afternoon during games time and introduce the program. We can have a tournament after two weeks. Games time starts at 3:10 pm here in Kenya.
Jules – Great. Do you have primary schools prepared to welcome you? And will they give you time?
Joseph – yes, we got primary schools that are very ready to like.. we actually run our sessions now in one of the primary schools… They will be ready to give us time also.. sports forms part of the Kenyan education curriculum.
Let’s watch this space and come back in a month or so to see how they’re doing…
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