Legendary rugby captain Kayange to lead Kenyan delegation to Africa Youth Games – Xinhua

NAIROBI, July 10 (Xinhua) – Kenya's former rugby sevens captain Humphrey Kayange who was forced to announce his retirement from Kenya, was landed the job as Kenya's Chief of Mission for the Third Africa Youth Games.

"It is expected that the National Olympic Committee of Kenya [NOCK] [NOCK] lay [a] sound foundation for these young and up and coming athletes," said NOCK Secretary General Paul FK Paul in a statement on Tuesday.

The Africa Youth Games will be held in Algiers, Algeria from July 18-28. Kenya will have seven disciplines at the Africa Youth Games including athletics, beach volleyball, rugby, hockey, tennis and swimming.

Kenya faces an uphill task to emulate their successful performance in Botswana two years ago where the country claimed 25 medals – seven gold, 11 silver and seven bronze to finish the table. South Africa (93 medals) claimed the overall title ahead of Nigeria (41).

Financial constraints have forced Kenya to compete. Only about 50 athletes, half of them in track and field, will be traveling to Algeria.

According to NOCK officials, Kenya will have 26 competitors from athletics, two beach volleyball teams, nine hockey players, four tennis players and four swimmers. at the event

The Kenyan rugby team has not confirmed participation despite the Rugby Africa President Abdelaziz Bougja, saying Kenya will be among the 22 teams expected in Algeria.

"The African Youth Games will be a real celebration of sport and his values ​​I look forward to the emergence of the future African stars of international rugby, "said Bougja.

Rugby teams that have confirmed participation in the Africa Youth Games are hosts Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo , DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Kenyan teams will pitch camp in Nairobi and Mombasa for the final training session ns before heading out to Algeria. This year's games will be awarded for a number of disciplines at the Youth Olympics, which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October.