Kenya has been approved as the newest member of the World Curling Federation (WCF) and it this came with a history tied to it.
Kenya made their World Curling debut and it resulted in an extra-end win against Nigeria in an all-African match.
Kenya emerged from a topsy-turvy game with a historic extra end 11-10 win over Nigeria, but meanwhile, on the next sheet, India recorded their first-ever international win, beating Kazakhstan by 7-6 in another tight encounter.
Kenya’s Curling Federation Joins Global Governing Body
The all-African game started with Kenya stealing two points in the first end, but by the fourth, Nigeria had leveled the score at 3-3 with a score of two. A score of five in the fifth end gave Kenya an 8-3 half-time lead, but Nigeria fought back, with two points in the sixth end and a steal of three in the seventh, to level the game again, at 8-8.
The Kenya Curling Federation (KCF) becomes only the second African country to be accepted for membership of the global governing body.
Kenya has followed Nigeria, which joined in 2018, and will compete in the Pacific-Asia zone of WCF competitions.
“Kenya curling is delighted to be the second African country to become WCF member,” said KCF President Laventer Atieno Oguta.
“This is big achievement for Kenya and Africa, and this going to motivate more African members.
“The KCF is going to work hard to help promote and support other African countries and promote curling in both Kenya and Africa.”
— Kenya Curling Federation (@KenyaCurling) September 5, 2020
Kenya’s Historic Curling Win: Coach’s Perspective
Kenya’s coach, American Dean Roth, gave some more background to the win, saying, “This is the first time that they’ve ever curled in international competition and it’s actually the first game that they’ve played against people that are not part of their own team. I think it’s highly significant that they were able to win. Nigeria is a great team. This was the first time for these guys on championship ice and they managed to pull it out in the extra, so neither team can feel bad about that game – it was amazing.”
Asked about how the result would go down back in Kenya, he added, “I think if we can get this in the media in Kenya, it’s going to be a little bit of shock and a lot of celebration.”
