Teso north: Athletes from the Teso community have been urged to prioritize education alongside athletics in order to secure international athletics scholarship opportunities. Speaking during the Elalai Cross Country Championship in Teso North, Elalai Training Camp coach Charles Kamau highlighted that athletes from the community are missing out on prestigious life-changing scholarships due to not meeting the required academic standards. Despite their success in the recent championship on December 26, they failed to secure four available international scholarships to study and further their talent at Kingston College and Jamaica University.
According to Kenya News Agency, to qualify for the scholarship, an athlete needed a minimum grade of C-Plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE). Kamau noted that the community had been allocated four slots in the international athletics scholarships, with one slot reserved for a girl and three for boys. He mentioned that efforts are now being redirected towards identifying students in local schools who excel in both academics and middle- to long-distance running.
Kamau emphasized the importance of meeting both running and academic requirements, stating, "I will only take runners who meet both running and academic requirements." He expressed concern over the trend of young athletes focusing solely on talent at the expense of education and discipline, warning that this could limit their future opportunities. Kamau advised that while talent is beneficial, discipline and education are crucial. He urged coaches to be honest about athletes' abilities and encouraged parents to guide their children to value education as much as sport.
Kamau pointed out that while some institutions may prioritize running ability, education remains a major requirement for most international scholarships. He noted that Japan University emphasizes running ability but still requires learners to master the Japanese language. Consultations with schools are ongoing, and Kamau is optimistic that at least one boy might secure a scholarship by the end of January.
Kamau remarked, "Education will not end, but talent can end anytime. Learners who perform well academically stand a better chance of securing opportunities in universities abroad." The Kingston College programme, which began in September 2020, saw coach Kamau assist then sixteen-year-old Ethan Githinji Gioko in securing a full four-year scholarship at the college in Jamaica.