Fencer Alexander Ndolo admits there was 'miscommunication' with NOC-K after venting frustrations in 2023

Alexander Ndolo has admitted to 'miscommunication' with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) after she accused them of failing her in 2023.

German-born Kenyan fencer Alexander Ndolo has finally opened up on her infamous mix-up with the government and the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) after she had complained of “lacking their support” since opting to represent the country.

In May 2023, Ndolo expressed her disappointment over the lack of support she received from relevant sports authorities, highlighting the financial strain she endured while representing Kenya at various global events. She lamented the burden of shouldering expenses without adequate backing from NOC-K.

However, NOC-K later clarified that the delay in funding Ndolo was due to ongoing processes and documentation required to finalise her switch in nationalities. Despite this clarification, Ndolo's grievances underscored broader issues regarding athlete support and infrastructure development within Kenya's sporting landscape.

Ndolo revealed her challenges in managing her affairs while training in Europe, citing difficulties in communication and the absence of established contacts within Kenyan sports authorities. She expressed frustration over what she perceived as empty promises from NOCK and the lack of clarity regarding funding allocation.

"I knew it would be difficult but I did not know it would be that difficult," Ndolo stated during an interview on NTV's Sport On. "I wish I could stay in Kenya, but for my training, I needed to stay in Europe because I really needed a strong training group."

Ndolo emphasised the disparity between the support systems in Germany and Kenya.

“In the German system, if you are at the highest level, they just pay for everything and give you an allowance, but I understand that is not possible in Kenya," she added.

“Had I been told that from the beginning, that it is not about proving myself, that we are a lot of athletes and the funds need to be spread equally, and sometimes if people do not know you, they do not know if they should fund you.

Ndolo has now admitted that there there may have been a hint of miscommunication which she admits left her overreacting.

“I think it was a bit of miscommunication that I hope to just solve now because in the end, we all want the same thing. All sports entities want athletes to go to the Olympics and I think we can do the same.”

As the daughter of a Kenyan father and Polish mother, Ndolo's decision to switch allegiance to her father's birthplace was driven by a desire to promote fencing and represent Kenya on the international stage. 

Despite the challenges, Ndolo boasts an impressive record, including five gold medals at the European Under 23 level, a silver medal at the 2017 World Cup, and another silver at the 2022 World Fencing Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

Follow Pulse Sports X account for more updates.