CAD ATHLETICS COURSE OFF TO A FLYING START

IAAF Instructor Mr. Obajimi teaching correct starting technique

The 3rd CISM Africa Development Centre Athletics Coaches Course, under the patronage of CISM, got under way on 7th June 2010 at Moi International Sports Centre in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya.

The course was set off in an elaborate opening ceremony whose guest of honor was renowned peacekeeper Lt Gen (Rtd) Daniel Opande. The function was also attended by senior military and sports officers.

In his remarks, the chairman Athletics Kenya Armed Forces Brig Khisa noted with satisfaction that since the inception of the course, standards in performance and coaching had greatly improved. He hoped this trend would continue for the good of Africa.

Guests of Honor

In his keynote address, Lt Gen Opande recognized the efforts made by CISM, Kenya Armed Forces and other stakeholders in the realization and subsequent successful running of the 4 Boxing and 2 Athletics coaches’ courses. He noted that this was going to be the seventh course under this noble program. He wished participants a happy stay in Nairobi and excellent performance in the course. He urged them to sample as much of the Kenyan culture and hospitality as possible during their stay.

The senior course lecturer Mr Rotimi Obajimi from Nigeria informed the gathering that even though the course was very challenging, the fruits were worth the struggle. He is being assisted by Dr Michael Litaba of Kenyatta University.
A total of 24 participants from seven member countries are taking part in the course. The countries are Burundi, Morocco, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The course will run until 22nd June 2010.

CISM Kenya – Proud host of the CISM African Development Centre
4th CAD Boxing Course for Coaches – Nairobi – 2-16 Nov 2009

The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia (north), Somalia (northeast), Tanzania (south), Uganda plus Lake  Victoria (west), and Sudan (northwest). The capital city is Nairobi.
The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa. Kenya became an independent republic on 12 December 1963 after decades of colonialism as “British East African Protectorate”
Kenya is active in several sports, among them cricket, rallying, football (soccer), rugby union and boxing. But the country is known chiefly for its dominance in Middle-distance and long-distance athletics. Kenya has consistently produced Olympic champions in various distance events, especially in 800 m, 1,500 m, 3,000 m steeplechase, 5,000 m, 10,000 m and the marathons. Kenyan athletes continue to dominate the world of distance running, although competition from Morocco and Ethiopia has reduced this supremacy.
Kenya and CISM
Kenya joined CISM in 1994 and from that moment on, kept on regularly participating in the CISM life by taking part in continental and world events of CISM. One of the milestones of the CISM Kenya history was the organization of the 1st CISM African Military Games in Nairobi in 2002. Kenya was also the host nation of the ECALO Liaison Office during 8 years (2001-2008).
But, in CISM, Kenya is also famous for being the host nation of the CISM African Regional Development Centre (CAD).
More than 4 years ago, when CISM developed the philosophy of this Centre, the initial objectives of this RDC were and are still:

• to stimulate and support sports training programs
• to develop a structure designed to provide an overall and efficient leadership in sports administration
• to train and develop elite sportsmen with an ultimate aim in increasing their participation in sports competitions in CISM
• to educate coaches and technical officials in a bid to enhance performance and improve the standards of coaching

4th CAD Boxing course
From 2 to 16 last November, Kenya organized the 4th CAD Boxing Coaches course in the “Moi International Sports Centre” in Nairobi. This is already the 6th International Boxing

Course organized by the CAD in 4 years. Till today, the CAD has conducted 6 courses for a total of 121 participants coming from 19 different countries from the whole African continent.

Over these 10 days, some 20 coaches from 8 countries will get a theoretical and practical course given by one of the most famous boxing coach from all over the world, Professor Ruben Sanchez, from Cuba, assisted with a team of highly educated instructors from the Kenyatta university of Nairobi.

The President of the Kenyan Boxing Association, Mr Samson Muchaga Mwangi officially opened the course with a very enthusiastic speech about the positive synergies around the CAD CISM in Kenya. He then had a very promising commitment to officially propose AIBA, the International Boxing Association to become a integrated partner of the CAD for Boxing. Let us wish him good luck in his attempts. More than 18 different topics linked to the preparation of the military boxers were broached during this course. Among others, the participants were professionally addressed on items such as the bandaging techniques, the principles of fitness adapted to boxing, the psychological readiness of the competitors, etc.

The participants joined the practice to the theory at the Sports Stadium of Kenyatta University for a targeted fitness tests which included PE exercises such as upper body strength test, Shoulder Bridge, Low back applied flexibility…and many more.
 

KARIBU KENYA BWANA SECRETARY GENERAL!!
In Kiswahili language, which is the National language spoken in Kenya, This means ‘Welcome to Kenya Mr. Secretary General.
The CISM Secretary General Col Alexandre Morisod literally landed running for this short but important visit to the home of the first CISM Development Centre, the CISM Africa Development Centre (CAD).

He started his busy schedule with a courtesy visit to the Chief of Kenyan Delegation Lt Gen Jack Tuwei, who is also the Chairman of the CAD Management Board at his office at the Kenya Army Headquarters. He pledged his support and that of CISM Kenya in his endeavors and wished him well in all that he would undertake.

On his part, COL Morisod thanked CISM Kenya under Lt Gen Tuwei’s leadership and the Kenya Armed Forces for having successfully run the CISM Africa Development Centre (CAD) ensuring an additional four year extension. He noted the need for synergy between the CISM, CISM Kenya, and the National and international federations. This would ensure recognition, support, and therefore success in CISM projects. Col Morisod also impressed on Kenya and other CISM member Nations in the region to support CISM by hosting CISM activities.

Col Morisod paid a visit to the CAD at the Moi International Sports Centre in the outskirts of Nairobi, where he met and mingled with participants who are currently in Kenya for the 4TH CAD Boxing Coaches Course. He had occasion to address them and to get their views on the course. In his address, Col Morisod implored participants to practice what they had learned in the promotion of boxing in their countries. The participants thanked CISM for the noble idea of having the CAD in Africa for it had immensely played a big part in the already visible changes in boxing in Africa.   He also sat through a practical lesson where he had a chance to see first hand what the course entails.