The Fourth edition of the Kenya Inter-Counties Sports and Cultural Association, KICOSCA started in Thika, Kiambu County on Monday with pledges to teams which will clinch gold medals.
The host, Governor William Kabogo, said that gold medalists from Kiambu County will get automatic promotion together with other incentives.
Speaking while officially opening the week-long KICOSCA games, Kabogo appealed to other governors to follow suit saying that sports make employees strong, healthy and teaches them to accept defeat and celebrate a victory.
Kabogo later led his Kericho counterpart Prof Paul Chepkwony in a penalty shootout where he scored all the two penalties while Prof Chepkwony managed one.
Prof Chepkwony will today remove his governorship tag and feature in volleyball action as player-cum-coach. “I am ready to represent my county as a player, other teams should not think they will walk over us easily,” he said.
The winners will represent Kenya in the 8th edition of the East African Local Authorities, Sports and Cultural Association games in Machakos County in December. Rwanda hosted last year’s edition.
In the opening men’s tug of war match, which was officiated by Kabogo, Nairobi emerged winners after triumphing over Vihiga County 2-0. Busia men’s volleyball team also got off to a bad start as they were beaten 3-1 by Kisumu.
The annual event has attracted 32 counties, which will battle it out in 16 disciplines including football, netball, pool, darts, athletics, tug of war, volleyball, basketball, aqua, draughts, badminton, table tennis, squash, cultural, dances, choir, tricycle and racing.
The main action will be on the soccer field, where Busia have vowed to get revenge against Nakuru this year after Nakuru beat them 2-0 in the finals.
The team which was flagged off by Governor Sospeter Ojaamong on Sunday, are in pool B with Kirinyaga and Murang’a. Nakuru are in Pool E with West Pokot and Kilifi.
The opening ceremony started with a procession by participating teams from Town Hall to the Stadium. The Busia delegation at the games was led by Culture and Sports CEC Martin Kafwa.
The games start tomorrow with Busia featuring in 12 disciplines including football, netball, volleyball (men and women), athletics , Pool, darts, aqua, cultural dance, choir and tug of war (men and women).
