 Welcome to the touchline here on Y254. I'm Robert Osoro. Big news here today as we're going to discuss everything that is happening in the world of sports. The German Bundesliga is actually returning today with five matches on the cards. We'll be giving you every story and everything as it has been happening so far. As I told you, Alia will be speaking to Dennis Okeo and International Media Agency's journals. He writes for many international media agencies when it comes to sports and he's here in studio with us. Dennis, welcome to Y254. It is the touchline. First of all, how are you doing? I'm well. We are coping with the new normality. Thank you for inviting me for the show. Welcome to the touchline as always. As sports journalists at the moment, we are the ones, even if we don't have the disease yet, as so far we don't have it and we don't want to get it so far. But at the moment also, we are suffering because we don't have anything to cover. There's no coverage when it comes to the sports industry at the moment. From your end, what has been the worst thing you have suffered so far when it comes to this pandemic and sports? It has been two months of craziness and I think our health sometimes is more important than the sports. That's when the directives were made that no one should go out and no sports event should take place. We were forced to work from home. It's not easy, especially someone who is used to going to the field and meeting people here and there. So far, what we have been relying on is writing future stories. We have been writing future stories because there are no events. We are just speculating that this thing will happen. This will go on. But so far, we are just relying completely 100% on future stories. We cannot quantify the impact the coronavirus has had on the sports world. We have to wait for it to come out. Every federation doesn't want to give the numbers because it's very mass when it comes to it. But from your end, just give us a preview of the impact of the coronavirus it has had on the sports world. I may talk particularly on Kenyan, especially athletics where I am more involved. Kenyan entwits top runners ranging from 400 to marathon and even mountain running. There are around 1000 top runners. Then there is another tire which is around 3000. This top runner earns almost 5 million per season. That's the money that this guy brings in the country. That's from bonuses, winning bonuses, appearing fees and contract signing. That's the kind of money. Now remember, all these have stopped. Maybe a small percentage still gets the contract money. They sign from big sportswear companies like Adidas and Nike and others. And then there is what we call semi-elits. Those who are struggling to enter the big league of runners rely mostly on local races. That's a kind of a kaini standard chart. First lady marathon and remember they are not happening. So squarely this guy is earning anything. So the suffering is real. It is a big one. From your end to these athletes, what are they telling you at the moment? When you speak to these athletes on the phone, when you interact with them on the phone, what do they tell you? All of them, they are just praying that normalcy should come back. Their biggest prayer is normalcy so that they can go out and compete again and earn their living. So majority, some might be lucky because they are employed. They have a permanent job with the Kenyan forces. That's a prison, KDF, police and they have that constant monthly payment that come in. But some are not. They are here to get the chance to get employed. The local races have actually come into a situation where we had a chance also to have the under 20 coming back to Kenya. Now when it's made to be the under 20, the first or second country to host it and it's not coming. Can you tell us how that has impacted us so far? No, the good thing about under 20, which you are supposed to have it actually next month, is that the world athletics body president Sebco, assured Kenya that they will host under 20. But what they are yet to do is they put the date. They have not set the date when this thing will happen. But at the same time, remember we were to host the first Continental Tour that was coming to Nairobi on May 2nd probably in Kwemi Shapit. But they have pushed it to September 26th. And the date is set and I know the LLC for that led by Barnaba Corrid. They are already working behind the scene and that one we hope will be successful. But again remember it depends with the normals. It depends with the normals that we are going to have here. But also the athletics world has suffered enormously because of the events that have been cancelled so far. If you just give us a preview of the local athletic events that have actually been postponed, which one can people want to know about? They are family bank, half marathon that happens in Eldoret. The organizers are yet to talk about it, but definitely it has been postponed. This Eldoret city marathon, one of the biggest paying events in the country. It is not happening, they postponed it. This Nairobi-Biamond 10K run was supposed to happen in April. It was cancelled so there are several. Another one Nairobi really host normally host them. Nairobi standard chart on marathon in around October there. We are here to know if it will happen, but we wait and see. Actually these are the only ones locally which we managed to have was the Ndakaini half marathon and also the beyond zero marathon so far. It is the touch line here in Y254. I am hanging out with Dennis Oke who writes sports for most international media agencies and is here in studio with us to talk to us on the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the sports scene and we are actually focusing on athletics. Away from the field of play, Dennis, because that is where most of us are. For us we usually concentrate on the field of play, the athletes and everything. But what about the boardroom people? These people sign our cheques, the people sign the marathon cheques. What are they saying from their end? How has this affected them? Athletics bonus is earned by several people, they are race organizers, they are agents, they are coaches. All that chain, currently they are not earning anything. What I have noticed, I saw world athletics launching athletics fund that they want to channel to those athletes who are in need. Yesterday they released the fund that goes around 54 million but remember that is worldwide. So the fund will go to the most in need, the most in need athlete. I just point out, they said if athlete has competed in golden level marathon then you automatically disqualify. Also if you finish within top 6 of the diamond league circuit then you are also out. But remember they have to apply to show the need. So they have to apply to our local federation. Exactly, in this situation. So are the semi-elite athletes eligible for that? Because for them they have been performing locally and they have not had a chance to go to the higher level. Yes, they have a chance but they have to apply and indicate if they are in need of it. So it is majorized with the Athletics Canyon Federation to give that list to the world. Exactly, exactly. It is a big major for us there. But away from the local scene also we got the Olympics being cancelled. So our local athletes like Elliot Kipchoga he was saying that I have got to get to the Olympics. I've got a chance to break to at the Olympics. What about them? What has this done for them? It was a major setback for athletes especially those who had already been picked. Remember Athletics Canyon had picked the marathon team so that they can start the camp in May, actually this month. Then the Olympics were pushed to next year. I don't know. I don't know really. If the federation will still stick with the names they have already chosen but they are the picking authority. And some age might cut them out. Yes. Remember the athletes were aging and probably this year was their pick and next year they won't be at the pick. Considering that the Olympics committee as the IOC actually said that we cannot postpone the Olympics twice we can postpone it once but if it cannot happen we just have to cancel the entire Olympics. That one has got to be a bad statement to athletes who are 35 years old when it comes to the Olympics. Yes, remember Olympics happens in every 4 years so when you are 35 then you add for that 39. The young people are coming here very strong, ambitious, they want to make a name. They actually said kick you and get the chance probably you won't be able to appear. Your chance is gone. Also there is also the athletes going there but even locally and internationally one of the things that has changed is the calendar but also we have got the athletes' mentality to training. Are they training and they train to the same level when they are going for a competition? Something about Kenyan culture in training is that they train in groups when they come they normally train in groups 10, 20, 30 some go up to 50 you go to Kaptagat, you go to Kapsabet you go to 10 in the morning is a huge, huge group and now the restriction is that you can't be in a group so individually they are training separately at the respective home but psychologically they are just keeping fit because they are not sure of their next competition they don't maybe want to add more weight just keep fit. And now the calendar is also the one that has been majorly affected and not only in athletics but also in sports and everybody will be running with the debts Do you see a situation where we can manage to get this calendar back in line if we manage to return? Dermon League organisers last week sat and they decided that the races will start in mid-August to October some races will not come in like let's say Dubai races in Dubai that goes on top but some Dermon Leagues like Rome, London they have been fixed to fit within that span of 2.5 months from mid-August to October I know they will be congested but at least we will have at least to compete there at least they have something at the end of the season We are discussing everything considering the athletics that has been happening here in the country and also worldwide considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the sports industry into darkness today we might see a light when it comes to the German Bundesliga but it's actually darkness The German Bundesliga if I just dissect a little bit Dennis is back today does it offer hope from your perspective because we are in darkness we are in really darkness do we see this as light at the end of the tunnel It's a huge moment for sports especially to see a Bundesliga coming back after 2 to 3 months over no live football at least it gives hope that at the end of it something good is going to happen maybe in 2 months or 1 month to come That is a big one a big one for us there as they come in for us but that one is gone and then we got the Olympics that was also postponed and everything and also the IOC has come up to say that they have set aside 80 billion to come up and also a fund that can tackle financial hardships created by the pandemic is it enough? Yeah at least there is something there that's her will be enough for it and in the whole world as everything is going on we see countries invest when it comes to hosting the Olympics countries go ahead and invest what has this done to Japan as a country Yeah, they were actually looking for a big moment in sporting history in Japan and when the pandemic came out actually these are huge huge financial loss they are likely to incur already incurred That's why they are hopeful at least they carry it forward to next year Locally as we are still speaking about everything that is happening to the Olympics world it's actually 9 years today that the legendary athlete Samuel Wanjiru passed away and we are celebrating it's 9 years since he left but he left some of the best marks what good memory do you remember about Samuel Wanjiru Wanjiru was a pure talent Remember at the age of 22 he won an Olympic gold medal the first actually for the country and just look at the time in the marathon 2 hours around 6 minutes Olympic record at that time he was pure talent the short period he was around he broke 3 half marathon records before switching 4 marathon so potentially was big potential to break all record because by then he had 2 hours 5 minutes personal best time he is the one who paved the way for Elwood Kipchoga because now we have seen Elwood Kipchoga and they have come here has been the one who has been on the international scene similarities and difference between the two the big difference the personality level is different Wanjiru was outgoing and fun loving everyone knows him he could not work in the street without people recognizing him while Elwood Kipchoga is a polite guy he keeps to himself most of the time that's a huge difference but all of them they are very very talented we have seen also a surge of for me personally I think I grew up in the era of Paul Tergat and he was the one when we saw them running they were the major rivals in the 10,000 meter and then we had someone Wanjiru coming and now Elwood Kipchoga who are the young talents who are coming up to take over because now this might be the end of time that we are going to see Elwood Kipchoga go the way has gone at the moment we still have huge huge talent Kenya have so many athletes marathoners who sub 2 hours 5 minutes we have Lawrence Lawrence Cherono last year he won Chicago and Boston and he was picked to make his olympic debut and actually the postman olympic is a huge talent the guy who won bronze at the world championship his name is it's really good the talent is there and if you go lower the likes of Ronex Rogers Kwe Moe they are people who for example Ronex at his age is only 20 years he has already broken a 10 kilometer record which was rectified this week by IWALDA WALDA Athletics so the basket is there what's our secret because worldwide you go from the time of Kipchoga Keino the story of the olympics I think it was in the Munich olympics in 72 where he had a stomach ache and came out when people had already gone for I think 2 laps they had already gone ahead of him and he came back and actually won that marathon what is our secret when it comes to olympics the athletics in our country our major secret is determination and kenyanness to achieve if we just focus on drift ball alone if you see your neighbor has really made it in athletics and is living a life you might envy there are some of the things that pushing the young guys to come into athletics and work hard to be like they have what we call the people we are looking up to someone I want to be like a boy I want to be Paul Terrigat so you are pushed to work harder so that you can also get to that level where they are most of them they run from what we normally say they run from poverty if you look at the story most athletes come from very very humble actually there is no athlete who can say that has been from a very rich background exactly they come from very humble background and they see athletics is the only avenue to make it in life that's what they push themselves to the limit to achieve many things have been happening in the athletics world and we are just having fun here in studio talking about them and remembering everything that has been happening in the world of athletes changes administrative we have got athletes moving from field of play track and field to actually become administrators become leaders here there are some changes some athletes have been made also to come even into the COVID committee can you give us what has been happening here Matillong has been appointed to be something in the COVID 19 committee actually Matillong is 2008 bronze medalist in the steep reaches remember him and Ken Boy the showman and Bremen they were the people during that generation and he has been a policeman he retired in 20 if I remember it's 2 or 3 he retired and he was a policeman he has been fully committed to police force that's national police and before being given the chance to lead a police station that's an OCS he is actually the profession in charge of sports for national police in the entire Rift Valley and if you go back the athletes who have really risen through the ranks in police if you have a pick William Yampoi he is actually one of the commission of the police he is a former 800 meterer it's a big one for him that he has come actually to the front when it comes to others for him he is there as administrator we had Bungay making it to parliament I think we also another MP also Wilson also made it to parliament did they make a difference when it comes to sports in legislature I am putting you on the spot I don't know I want to say about it but yes Bungay attempted to be he tried to make his way to parliament but he didn't make it even Wilson Kipsang he didn't make it but the guy who made it was 2015 Boston Marathon winner his name is disappearing the guy who made it and he tried to make changes within the parliament but they didn't materialize so somehow we can say we are here to see a real change after the parliament level well that is all we have for athletics conversation here in the country so far at the moment because it's actually darkness but we might see light at the end of the day didn't I cannot let you go without talking about Nicolas Musoni also coming on board to try and fight for the football Kenya Federation presidency is this someone that we can embrace Musoni has been at the helm of sports for very very long time and he has the experience the experience to take the leadership of football and take it to the next level and I have seen his announcement on the candidates for FKF position presidential position has really later some movement this week and I think it might have a chance but it's not remember the president now is not an easy guy also to beat around deal around with and the rangos Kenya Premier League and football Kenya Federation will ever they come to an end FKF at the moment I think they are their sole responsibility they have to take they want to do away with the current football Premier League management and the friction has been there and I don't see them working together for example they made changes that they decided to award the gods view the champion and they never it's said it's alleged that they never consulted the Kenyan Premier League officials so I don't see them working together for sure as someone who has covered sports and now you majorly cover athletics what's one thing that FKF can learn from athletics because most of the time people say athletics is an individual sport which for me to a large extent is not it's actually a team sport because elude cannot run alone out there and people think that is the only one who ran and made it they had a team that helped him get there what can FKF learn from athletics Kenya so that they can also come to a level where they can also get us gold medals in this country that's a huge task for football to achieve at that level managing an individual sports is totally different from a group sports like football one of the major problem is the way the football are nurtured from younger level the continuity has been a problem all through every individual leader coming in football they have different ideology others want to go to politics and they use football as an avenue of going to politics others are there to maybe milk the small funds that is available there for them to it just needs commitment to be at the same level with athletics but remember they have to really have a youth group that goes all the way no shortcut it's just pure hard work and dedication thanks a lot Dennis for coming here for the touchline on Y254 because we don't have many matches that are happening in the world so we only have the Bundesliga so we have been giving our audience some of the sports movies that they can go out there and watch which movie can you recommend when it comes to sports or documentary I don't watch movies but I like documentaries there's one that I'm currently watching called The Last Dance by Jordan it's uninteresting you learn a lot of moves and what goes around behind the scenes in sports it's one of the latest people can actually look forward and watch well you had it here from Dennis thank you for coming here on Y254 The Last Dance by Michael Jordan is one of the documentaries that you can watch is actually a six time NBA winner and is there you can watch that one so for the trailers of the sports movies to watch this week we have got for you The Longest Yard by Adam Sadler and Chris Rock this is a movie about American football about an American footballer who got problems with the law went to prison and came back to make his career we have got the Rocky series of Sylvester Stallone and also one of the best boxing movies followed by also the sequel of Creed 1 and 2 and that is one you can also go out there and watch and we have also got Brad Pitt is also another movie about American baseball sports movie that you can go out there and those are the trailers we leave you with them so far when we come back we will be talking about the Bundesliga and everything that is happening what has happened so far in the Bundesliga but for now let's enjoy the trailers of the sports movies ahead