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The Sports Ministry has addressed the confusion surrounding Kenya's Kabaddi team's delayed departure for the World Cup in Iran.
After hours of confusion and frustration at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Kenya's Kabaddi team has finally departed for the Men’s Beach World Cup in Iran.
The team, which had been stranded at the airport after receiving misleading travel information, was left in a difficult situation due to what the Ministry of Sports has called a “discrepancy in dates” provided by the Kabaddi Federation.
The saga unfolded after the team spent the night at Talanta Plaza, where they had been assured of a 6:00 PM flight. However, upon arrival at JKIA, they discovered that no tickets had been booked for them.
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This led to the players staging a sit-in at the office of Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Sports, Peter Tum, and later at the airport itself.
In a statement issued on Friday, PS Tum provided a detailed explanation of the events leading to the delay, shedding light on the miscommunication between the Ministry and the Kabaddi Federation.
According to the PS, the confusion arose from inaccuracies in the federation’s initial request for travel facilitation.
"The department of Sports received a financial request from Kabaddi Federation concerning their participation at the World Cup event in Iran, which they stated would be commencing on 20th and ending on 30th September 2024," Tum explained.
However, upon closer examination, the Ministry discovered that the tournament was actually scheduled to start on the 25th of September and end on the 30th, a significant deviation from what the federation had originally communicated.
"This information was further authenticated by the embassy of the Republic of Iran, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Tum added.
In addition to the incorrect dates, the Ministry faced further complications when key officials from the Kabaddi Federation, including its Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, were unable to explain the discrepancy in the championship schedule.
Moreover, they could not provide the world championship games' manual, which the Ministry required for verification purposes.
While the Ministry was working to resolve these issues, tensions escalated as the team members, frustrated with the delay, chose to hold a sit-in at the PS’s office overnight on September 19th.
Despite being reassured by Ministry officials that their travel would be facilitated no later than Sunday, September 22nd, the team grew impatient.
“At 2:30 PM, on the same day of 19th September, and in complete disregard of the consultations that had taken place in the morning, the Federation officials informed the ministry officials that the players were at the JKIA waiting to board the 4:30 PM flight to Tehran. They had not been issued with air tickets but relied on the anticipation that the Ministry would issue them with tickets while they were at the airport,” the PS revealed.
The Ministry expressed its dismay at the actions of both the federation officials and the players, noting that their premature presence at the airport created unnecessary tension.
"The Department is perturbed by the behavior of Kabaddi National team players who flocked the PS's office and refused to leave despite the assurance that their issues would be looked into the following day," Tum remarked.
Despite the chaotic situation, PS Tum assured that the Ministry had done everything possible to ensure the team’s participation in the World Beach Championships.
"The team shall be fully facilitated to participate in the World Beach Championships in good time, and that the tickets have been issued to the team to travel Friday 20th September 2024 at 4:35 PM, aboard Emirates Airlines," he confirmed.
The Ministry of Sports also took the opportunity to remind federation officials of the importance of proper planning and communication to avoid future situations that leave athletes in limbo.
"The Ministry appreciates the sacrifice and the effort the national team players have invested in their preparation for the sake of our beloved country, and calls upon the Federation officials to be truthful and honest while planning for international events and competitions in order to avoid putting innocent players in difficult situations," Tum emphasized.
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