Journalists gear up for Sunday's Media Challenge

Story Courtesy Dun Okinyo

Speaking after the pooling of the teams where both the men and women national team sides players were also informed of the media houses they will play for in the inaugural event, national team captain Maurice Ouma who will lead the Star team said the event promises to be entertaining and at the same time promised to lead his side to victory.

“I expect it to be an entertaining event if the enthusiasm we have seen in the teams is anything to go by. Teams have shown a lot o desire to play the game and we and so what is remaining is for them to turn up make it a success,” Ouma said.
However no team will have the services of former national team captain Steve Tikolo and vice captain Thomas Odoyo who are out of the country at the moment. The two are in Zimbabwe for a professional stint.

Pool A has Star, KBC Idhaa, People and Citizen while Pool B has East FM, KTN, KBC Channel One and K24. Pool C will have Nation, Jambo Radio and Standard.

Ouma will be joined by Africa record holder Sarah Bhakita in the Star team. Bhakita hit unbeaten 186 runs in Kenya thrashing of Rwanda last year in Nairobi.
National team vice Captain Jimmy Kamande and Pearlyne Omamo will lead Citizen TV’s quest for the title while Nation will boost of former Warwickshire star Collins Obuya and Marie Aimee.

Aimee an opening batsman and wicket keeper is just from leading Kenya to a third spot in the just concluded Africa Women Youth Championships in Tanzania while Obuya is from a one month High Performance Camp in South Africa.

“The grouping looks fine and I looking forward for the day so that we can see what the journalists have to offer,” Obuya said

In South Africa, Obuya alongside Rakep Patel, Alex Obanda and Ouma were taken through intensive batting coaching ahead of the 2011 World Cup in Asia.
East FM who are poised to give the other teams a run for their money will be joined by upcoming star Dominic Wesonga and Maureen Mutunga. KTN and Standard newspaper will boost of the services of Obanda, Margaret Banja, David Obuya and Emily Ruto respectively. Ruto is the captain of the national ladies team.

KBC two teams will have the services of Nehemiah Odhiambo, Belinda Maska, Alfred Luseno and Mercyline Odhiambo to bank on in the 11 team’s show that starts at 8am. Jambo FM will have national team opening bowler Peter Ongondo and Ruth Mwihaki while People Daily will have Patel and Mary Belle.
Sylvia Wairimu and Elijah Otieno will be expected to lead K24 with their bowling strengths.

Are Cricket Kenya winning over the media?

If the response to the CK organised Media Challenge is anything to go by, it seems so.
The following is taken from the as yet unofficially launched CK website:

"Journalists gear up for Cricket action

Anxiety is building up ahead of the inaugural Media Cricket Challenge due December 6, this year at the Parklands Sports Club.

Most media houses have already named their squads besides getting down to training ahead of the event that is supposed to enlighten journalists on the intrigues and rules of the game.

Precisely, 14 teams have confirmed participation and more are expected for the one-day eight-aside championship that will feature eight overs. Each team is required to provide 10 players for the tournament while Cricket Kenya (CK) will boost them with two national team players each.

CK chief executive officer, Tom Tikolo said it’s their intentions to stage a memorable and successful event adding that the championship would be inscribed in their annual calendar of events.

“ We want to make it an annual extravagannza where besides teaching journalists on the dynamism and rules of the game, they should be able to interact with each other and know cricket governors and national team players,” said Tikolo.

Tikolo explained this would empower journalists to confidently write and analyse cricket matters now that Kenya has qualified for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Playing jerseys will be availed to all the teams with the names of their respective members inscribed on them. Glamorous prizes would be at stake for the winning teams and special awards for individual brilliance and skills.

“We want to run it just like any other major championship with rules being followed up to date,” said Tikolo. “However, each player in the team will have a chance to bat, bowl and field.”

Tikolo explained that teams should take advantage of the grounds at Parklands and train adding that CK has already set aside coaches who will conduct clinics during the training.

“The grounds are free daily from 12pm and our technical team will be available upon request from the teams. Let them embrace this opportunity and polish up ahead of the event,” Tikolo said.

Among the media houses that have confirmed participation are Nation, Standard, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), East FM, Radio Jambo, The Star, People Daily, K24 and Citizen TV.

“The event has attracted so much attention that some media houses will provide two teams for the championship,” said Tikolo. "

So far, things are looking good. If there is genuinely this much interest in the media, CK could have hit upon a winner. For too long, Kenyan cricket has suffered at the hands of media that do not understand the complexities of the game and the challenges inherent. This tournament should break that down and cement some of them as true fans along the way. It could be the single greatest achievement of this administration if the media get on board and start backing the game again. Fingers crossed the teams rise to the challenge and take up the opportunity. There could even be a case for a combined media team to enter a team into future NPCA competitions...

Cricket Kenya organise Media Challenge

Well after so much sniping from the media it seems that Cricket Kenya have finally decided that it is time to make a more concerted effort to get them to understand the game. Most of reporters on cricket in Kenya do not and have not played themselves so Cricket Kenya has organised an Inter Media Challenge for November 7th 2009.

They have invited teams from the following media groups to participate:

i) Standard Media Group,
ii) The Nation Media Group,
iii) The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation,
iv) The People Daily,
v) Africa One Media (Kiss FM, Jambo Fm, Classic FM, East FM etc)

Format will be eight a-side 10-overs per innings matches and will give the players a good insight into what playing the game really entails. Not only will they get the opportunity to play on the day but Cricket Kenya will also organise training sessions for each of the teams so that they can gear up and actually get the most out of the experience.

Given that they will be given sufficient training that they will not embarrass themselves and that there is plenty of time to prepare and the size of the organisations invited, THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY ALL THE ABOVE CANNOT RAISE A TEAM. Those that don't are plain and simply cowards.

Now the time for loose talk is over. Members of the press who have been so critical of the game and its players will have to put their money where their mouth is. Or their bats where their pens are perhaps would be a better turn of phrase. Who will actually stand up and prove that they have the mettle to learn the game. I hope and expect that most of those who do take part in this will thouroughly enjoy it and if they do, I offer a further challenge:

Submit a joint Media Team to future NPCA competitions. There would be no better way that to further grow an understanding of the more complex parts of the game such as building an innings, scoring centuries, bowling as a partnership etc, all things which can only be guessed at in 10-overs a-side matches.

Failing that, given that all correspondents for Kenya Cricket.com play the game, next time I am in Kenya, we will challenge the winners or a joint team to a match.

Game on and all credit to whoever in Cricket Kenya came up with this idea!