CASH AWARDS

President Mwai Kibaki has assured the country's sportsmen and women that the Government will continue to bestow honors and cash awards to excelling players as a motivation and reward for their selfless service to the nation.

President Kibaki made the remarks Friday when he received back the national flag and presented cash awards to the victorious Kenya's golf team which participated in and won Zone 6 Golf Championships in Botswana.

The golf team won the Africa Zone 6 Golf Championship for the first time in the 21 years.

The President, who hosted the team at the State House Gardens, said that the sterling performances achieved by Kenyan teams in international competitions brought fame to the country.

The President noted with appreciation the commendable progress the country has made over the last few years to improve sporting facilities as well as create an enabling policy and legal framework.

President Kibaki called upon the youth to take advantage of the government's efforts in developing the sports industry in the country to embrace sports and creative arts as an occupation.

"Our young people need to appreciate that it is not only the formal sector that can offer job opportunities. Opportunities for economic gain can also be obtained from sports as well as the creative arts," the President said.

The Head of State reassured the public that the government will not spare any effort towards creating a vibrant sports industry and in nurturing the sports talent especially among the young people in the country.

Congratulating the golf team for the exemplary performance in Botswana, the President challenged local golf managers to popularize the game among the youth in order to create a larger pool of golf talent.

"Your victory over traditionally strong teams including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia is testimony that golf in Kenya has come of age. It is a clear indication that we will succeed in creating a strong national golf team that will put our country on the world map of golf," the President said.

The Head of State urged the team and all stakeholders to uphold the same standards of commitment and hard work in order to succeed in stamping Kenya's authority in the world of golf and further vindicate the country's reputation as a great sports power house.

"Only recently, our gallant Cross Country team won the World Cross Country Championships in Poland. Soon thereafter, the Rugby Sevens team posted good results in Australia and Hong Kong. Currently, the Marathon season is on; and Kenyan athletes are sweeping across the world, winning race after race from Boston, to Vienna and hopefully to London this weekend," the President said.

The President also appealed to corporate organizations to assist up-and-coming sportsmen and women develop their talent to the fullest potential.

Addressing the same forum, Youth and Sports Minister Prof. Helen Sambili declared that her ministry would continue working closely with stakeholders to ensure the game attains high standards nationally and regionally.

The Minister said that the ministry would also popularize the game among young players in various learning institutions throughout the country.

Prof Sambili further urged the Kenyan team to uphold the winning spirit and continue training hard so that they can successfully defend the title next year and even ensure that the trophy finds a permanent home in Kenya.