Kenya’s Baseball5 aims for Dakar glory despite challenges

Kenya’s Baseball5 team is heading to the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games focused on winning gold, but a shortage of suitable training facilities has left head coach Joel Wangicho worried about the squad’s match fitness ahead of the continental showpiece.

Led by captain Shantel Luciana, the team departs for Senegal on Thursday, October 29, ahead of the competition scheduled to run from October 31 to November 3.

Since returning from Botswana about two weeks ago, the team has struggled to secure suitable training facilities, disrupting preparations for its first appearance at the Youth Olympic Games.

“The team, I would say, is ready,” coach Wangicho said.

“We started well in terms of preparation, but we had a hitch because from the time we left Botswana, that’s almost like one and a half weeks ago, the team has been struggling to get training time. We’ve been hosted where there’s no field of play. That has given us… I’d say I’m worried as a coach because the kind of fitness I wanted to build on from the Botswana game hasn’t been achieved. But all the same, we are ready for Dakar.”

Despite the setbacks, captain Luciana says teamwork and the responsibility of representing Kenya will be key as the squad chases gold at the global stage.

“We have teamwork, we should cooperate, and my team, they have teamwork. For us, it’s a motivation. As Kenyans, we’re representing Kenya, and they have hope in us, so it’s a bit of motivation. We have to win so they’ll also be happy because they’re motivating us. It’s our first time, so we hope to win and bring Kenya something good.”

Beyond Dakar, the team’s campaign could boost the growth of Baseball5 in Kenya, with plans to introduce the sport in schools from next year, subject to the necessary arrangements.

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