By GPC Sports Reporter
Kenya’s Baseball5 team is heading to Dakar, Senegal, with an ambitious target of winning gold at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 30 to November 3.
The team, which departs for Senegal on Wednesday, will be led by captain Shantel Luciana and head coach Joel Wangicho, who are confident of making a strong impression at the international competition.
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For Luciana, leading the team at the global youth event is both a privilege and a responsibility, with the players determined to represent the country proudly.
“We are hoping to win and to bring Kenya something good,” she said, adding that the encouragement and expectations of Kenyans back home were a major source of motivation.
The captain said preparations had focused on strengthening teamwork and cooperation among players to ensure they were ready for the demands of international competition.
While winning a medal remains the immediate objective, the players are also looking forward to testing themselves against international opponents, improving their skills and gaining experience that could benefit the sport back home.
Head coach Wangicho said the team was travelling to Dakar with a clear ambition of winning the tournament.
“We always say that the sky is the limit, and we are going for nothing apart from gold,” he said.
However, preparations have not been without challenges. Wangicho revealed that the team experienced difficulties accessing suitable training facilities after returning from Botswana, disrupting regular training sessions and efforts to maintain the players’ fitness.
Despite the setback, the coach expressed confidence in the squad’s determination and readiness to compete, saying the focus was now on making the most of the remaining preparations.
Beyond the competition, Kenya’s participation is expected to provide an opportunity to raise the profile of Baseball5 and encourage more young people to take up the sport.
Wangicho said he hoped Baseball5 would be introduced in schools from next year, subject to the necessary arrangements, to expand participation and create pathways for emerging talent.
The initiative would help establish a stronger grassroots foundation for the sport and give more young people an opportunity to develop their abilities and progress to competitive levels.
For Luciana and her teammates, the Dakar competition is therefore about more than winning medals. It offers an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s emerging talent, gain international exposure and inspire other young athletes.
The team will be seeking to turn its gold-medal ambition into reality while laying the groundwork for the growth of Baseball5 in Kenya.
