CEO Melisa Foundation Patricia Melissa celebrating with players from Elegeyo Marakwet after winning the community category award. Photo: Ezzy Pixels.
Melisa Organisation Foundation from Trans Nzoia is reviving the fading netball talent in Trans Nzoia through an annual tournament that attracts players from as far as Elgeyo Marakwet, Bungoma and Uasin Counties.
Speaking to ISFA during the finals, founder Patricia Melisa said the grassroot initiative is aimed to save netball talents lost after schools in the villages, by offering a platform of opportunity through sponsoring not only students, but also community members especially women still interested in furthering their talent.
“This initiative is important because it recognizes netball as a talent like any other sport. We aim to revive the talents being lost in the villages after schools through Mashinani talent that gives the players an opportunity to further their talent,” Melisa explained.
Echoing the sentiments by Melisa, Kenya Netball Federation Vice Chair Prof Chemugut says the initiative is in line with the current education system, Competence Based Education(CBE), which calls for nurturing talent under sports science one of the pathways in the curriculum.
“It is a noble move by Melisa to involve talents from our schools both junior and senior. This aligns closely with sports science, one of the pathways in the new education curriculum CBE. This calls for nurturing talents among our children,” Chemugut said.
Famously known as Steve, a netball champion from Kwanza Sub-county, currently a doctor in the United States of America, urged the ministry of education to nurture netball among boys after its return, as it can open further lucrative opportunities in future.
However, Melisa decried support from government stakeholders for support sustain the tournament, as it aside from talent nurturing, it calls fosters mental health through exercise especially among widows and young mothers from the daily life struggles, which according to Calisters Wekesa, a mental health champion said exercise is a form of sports therapy, good for mental health wellness.
Anne Awinja from the office of the Chief Officer education Janerose Mutama, assured Melisa of the county government’s support in the future to nurture the emerging talents, as it is part of the governor’s agenda to the people of Trans Nzoia county.
Chief guest at the event, Netball player and Kenya Netball Federation Millicent Busolo, urged teachers present at the tournament to ensure students have proper and correct documentation to avoid missing on both national and international opportunities present within Netball.
“Teachers should ensure that students have proper documentations like passports and other necessary documents when called upon, so that their students avoid missing opportunities to showcase their talents to the world. As a federation we appreciate what Melisa is doing and we are ready to support any netball initiative and I’m happy it has started at the grassroots,” she said.
Further calls were directed to the ministry of education to promote teachers supporting talent by Teachers service Commission Esther Yahama Curriculum Support Officer, to promote teachers supporting and nurturing talents within the county. She further lauded Melissa Foundation for including the students and urged teacher to identify students with talent and nurture them.
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