The CISM Africa Development Center (CAD) in Nairobi, Kenya can be said to be the realization of a long standing CISM dream.
In CISM Manual of Policy and Procedures are the following statements of purpose:
“... to provide mutual technical assistance …
... To support less privileged members in the name of friendship and solidarity…”.
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In the membership charter are statements:
“ … To give special importance to those who live in the most unfavorable context. Assist them wherever they can be, being synonymous with development and assistance …”
“… to carry out these missions CISM must develop reflection laboratories, meeting spaces ... give an equal chance for the sport practice to less privileged …”
It is with the above broad statements that the CAD was born with the following as its broad objectives:
a. To stimulate and support sports training programmes in modern and innovative topics such as sports management, sports medicine and specialized coaching, which will facilitate the development of high level sports performance.
b. To develop structures designed to provide an overall and effective leadership in sports administration.
c. To train and develop elite sportsmen and teams with an ultimate aim of increasing participation in variety of sports among CISM member states.
d. To administer a scheme to educate coaches and technical officials in a bid to enhance performance and improve the standard of coaching, refereeing and implement “CISM Coaches Certification Programme”.
e. To stimulate and facilitate sports research projects and development studies, which includes policy development, strategic planning, marketing, sports science and medicine.
f. Run updating and refresher courses for specialist personnel such as CISM delegates, competition organizers, chief of delegations and statisticians.
The CAD has successfully run three courses to date; two in Boxing and one in Athletics.
The first Boxing course in Boxing in 2006 was directed by Mr Ismael Salas from Cuba. The Second in 2007 was directed by Mr Ruben Sanchez, also from Cuba.
The Kenyan military boxing team has now started reaping the fruits of the CISM courses.
For the first time since 1988 when the last Armed Forces boxer, Pte Chris Sande, qualified for the Seoul Olympics and subsequently won a bronze medal, the Armed Forces has qualified two boxers out of the five that Kenya is sending to Beijing. They are Pte Nick Abaka in welterweight and Pte Nick Okoth in featherweight. They qualified at the Olympic qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia in March 2008. Kenya also was the overall winner in the championship. Pte Okoth won Gold and Pte Abaka took the silver.
They are coached by Ssgt Augustine Mutuku and Cpl Khatib Ali who attended the 2006 course and Cpl Collins Bullinda who attended the 2007 course.
Talking to this writer, the coaches said that the skills they acquired from the courses had greatly improved their coaching ability shown by the performance of the military team both locally and now in the Olympic qualifiers. They were in agreement that their experiences at the courses had totally changed their boxing – for the better.
News from far afield indicate that most of the participants of the two boxing courses have already stated causing ripples at home with some already breaking into coaching their countries’ respective national teams.
Maj Paul Njuguna
CISM AND IAAF EMPOWERING THE MILITARY IN AFRICA
The month of April 2008 marked the genesis of what is bound to be a turning point in Africa Military Athletics.
The CISM Africa Development Centre (CAD) based in Nairobi, Kenya organized and run the 1st CISM IAAF Athletics Level 1 Coaches’ Course.
The course was held on 6th – 21st April 2008 at the famous Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where legendary Kenyan athletes have been discovered.
A record eleven (11) OSMA member countries sent twenty three (23) participants to the course. The countries were Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
IAAF provided two experienced lecturers, Mr. Augustine Soge from Ghana and Mr. Bobby Gaseitsiwe from Botswana to direct the course. Mr John Velzian, the Director of the IAAF Regional Development Centre was also at hand to offer guidance.
The Opening Ceremony was presided over by Athletics Kenya Secretary General Mr. David Okeyo representing the AK Chairman Mr. Isaiah Kiplagat who is an IAAF Council Member. Also attending was Chief of ECALO Lt Gen Jackson Tuwei, Chief of Personnel, Defence Headquarters, Brig Gordon Kihalangwa, PES ECALO, Lt Col Samwel Mwangi and representatives of the Sports Stadia Mangement Board.
In his speech, the Guest of Honor thanked respective governments for realizing the importance if the course and thereby supporting their personnel to attend the course. He expressed profound gratitude to CISM for initiating the CAD and for their funding of the technical courses.
“The initiative is definitely a prudent reform in our sports activities which will immensely benefit Africa military sportsmen and enable them to participate confidently , more effectively and contribute more significantly in the international sports arena”, He said.
What followed was an amazing whirlwind two weeks of learning activities. The participants were taken through sixty seven topics of classroom and practicals. Classes were held at the IAAF Regional Centre and practicals at the well equipped Sports Centre. They covered all track and field events.
The participants also had a chance to sample the rich Kenyan culture through tours to downtown Nairobi and its environs. They also witnessed Kenyan athletes in action during the trials to select the Kenyan team to the African Championships.
The course came to an end on 20th April 2008 with a closing ceremony presided over by Lt Gen Jackson Tuwei flanked by other senior military officers.
In his speech, Lt Gen Tuwei noted with pride that the participants had worked diligently and with much commitment throughout the duration of the course and that they were able to achieve the course objectives. He urged them to prudently and selflessly utilize the skills and knowledge achieved in the course so as to benefit the entire military athletics fraternity in their respective countries and Africa at large.
He thanked CISM Hqs for their continued support of the CAD and therein the realization of the promotion of Military Sports in Africa. He also thanked all stakeholders especially the Kenya Armed Forces and IAAF for their continued assistance of the CAD programs.
The participants were awarded with IAAF International Certificates after a grueling examination. All passed. They were also awarded CISM Certificates of Participation.
Maj Paul Njuguna
CISM AFRICA DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (CAD)
Synergy for Development
2nd Boxing Coaching Course CISM Africa Development Centre(CAD)
Kenyan Delegation has been given an excellent example of synergy. The 2nd Boxing Course which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 11 to 24 November 2007 was supported by key stakeholders. This regional course was attended by 16 participants coming from 7 African countries.The opening ceremony was graced by the Chief of liaison Office ECALO, Lt Gen Jack Tuwei who was flanked by the head of Physical Education Department Kenyatta University, Professor Wamukoya and Kenya Sports Stadia Management representatives. The High Table during the Opening Ceremony gave evidence of the vastness of partnership brought together for the success of the event.
The main Boxing Course’s objective was achieved during 14 days; the 16 participants from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, and Kenya were taken through various aspects of importance in the sport of Olympic / Amateur Boxing. This included: Management, Leadership, Coaching, Nutrition and training of elite sportsmen.
The Chief Instructor was Mr. Ruben Sanchez from Cuba, assisted by Lecturers from Kenyatta University and Kenya Armed Forces.
The course was successfully concluded on 23 November 2007. Major General E Njeru, a highly placed sports personality in Kenya graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. During his speech, he thanked CISM for its efforts and commitment towards development of sports amongst the world Armed Forces. He also thanked all stakeholders for their continued mutual assistance in provision of technical material and resource personnel. At that occasion, Major General Njeru urged the participants to ensure that knowledge and skills gained were fully utilized for the benefit of the military boxing fraternity in their respective countries and Africa at large.
All participants were awarded Graded Certificates and souvenirs depicting Kenya’s vast culture and heritage.
