Swami sect club is Kenya's cricket nursery

AHMEDABAD: When Swaminarayan sect went to Kenya and wanted to blend with the local community, it was cricket that built bridges between people there. But that what was in 1975. What started as an initiative for greater interaction between communities has now blossomed into a nursery of cricket talent run by Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan of Maninagar branch in Nairobi.A total of 22 players from the club run by the Sansthan have made it to Kenya's national cricket team.
The sect set up the Swamibapa CC (cricket club) in Nairobi in 1975 with the blessings of the then spiritual leader, Muktajivan Swamibapa. Of the members of the club team, 80% were people from the Asian community while 20% were African. Swamibapa CC has grown since then and it currently has three teams based in London, two in Bolton and two in Nairobi.
The current national team of Kenya has six players from Swamibapa Cricket Club, namely, Shem Nogche, Nehemiah Odhiambo, James Ngoche, Elijah Otieno, Morris Ouma and Alex Obanda.
The London teams play in the Middlesex League since 1987. The Bolton teams play in the Cosmopolitian League and the Nairobi teams play in the National Provincial Cricket Association matches.
Swamibapa CC has become a household name in Kenyan sports mainly because of its contribution to the promotion of native Kenyan cricketers. The club has remained the mainstay of development of Kenyan cricket over 43 years. The contribution of the club to Kenyan cricket is evident from the fact that the Kenyan national cricket team in past has been represented by players from Swamibapa CC.
Peter Ongondo (Swamibapa captain from 2006), Morris Ouma, Lameck Onyango, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Tony Suji, Steve Tikolo (Kenya National Team captain from 2002 to 2009) were all nurtured by Swamibapa CC.
Kanti L B Sanghani, chairman of the club, says that the club team has been doing exceedingly well and has provided a perfect platform for the Asian and African communities to mix together." Till date, 22 players from our team have made it to the Kenyan national side," Kanti said.
We have to generate 1.5 million Kenyan shillings for hosting the tournament and maintaining the club team. We get these donations by our patrons. Cricket was not natural game for the residents of the country but with Swamibapa blessings and local support now it has gained a strong foothold here.
Club treasurer Sashikant J Sanghani says the team has been churning players for the national team and even players of the Indian national team have coached the Swamibap CC team. Former Indian spinner Shivlal Yadav had also coached the team. Sanghani said that the game brings together people from all sects and religions and the game has become a rage in the community.