East Africa Trains 29 Officials Ahead of Wrestling Championships

As the countdown to the second edition of the East Africa Amateur Wrestling Championships begins, a total of 29 coaches and referees from five countries have completed a comprehensive two-day training workshop in Nairobi.

The initiative, part of the Regional Development Tournament (REDT), marks a significant step in professionalising the sport across the region.

The workshop brought together 18 coaches and 11 referees from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Mauritius. The sessions were conducted under the auspices of United World Wrestling (UWW), the global governing body for the sport.

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South African official Charles Villet, a three-time Olympic referee and recipient of the 2019 Golden Whistle Award, led the referee training.

Speaking after the workshop on Friday, Villet praised the region's commitment to improving wrestling standards.

“This is the second year we’re holding this event, and I’m impressed by the eagerness to grow and learn. With consistent training like this, we’re going to get it right, both on the mat and on the sand,” Charles Villet, UWW International Referee Educator, said.

During the program, one referee attained a Level 1 UWW certification, while ten others advanced to Level 2 status.

Meanwhile, coaching responsibilities were overseen by UWW Regional Development Officer Vincent Akesse, a French-Ivorian expert.

Out of the 18 participating coaches, eight earned Level 1 UWW coaching certificates, with ten progressing to Level 2—an encouraging outcome that underscores the depth of talent in East Africa.

The Kenya Amateur Wrestling Association (KAWA) is now primed to host the much-anticipated East Africa Amateur Wrestling Championships, scheduled for August 9 to 10, 2025, at Kenyatta University in Nairobi. Freestyle wrestling will take centre stage on Saturday, followed by beach wrestling on Sunday.

With this fresh injection of trained professionals, East Africa is not just preparing for competition—but laying the groundwork for a stronger wrestling future.