Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday urged stakeholders in sports to play a leading role in encouraging the youth to take up sports as a serious development activity.

He noted that in order for the country to maintain its supremacy in sports both regionally and at the international level, efforts should be made to facilitate sporting activities among the youth.

"The future of sports in this country largely depends on how we train our youth and involve themin sports activities when they are still young," Kibaki said, noting that sports people were great role models to the youth of the nation.

The president made the remarks on Tuesday when he handed over the national flag to the Kenya National Golf Team proceeding to South Africa for the Annual Zone VI Africa Golf Championship.

Kibaki said the Kenyan government will build a public golf course to enable popular participation in the sport.

He called on the Kenya Golf Union to work hard and popularize golf as a sport in all parts of the country so that the game is not viewed as a preserve of the rich.

The president assured the union of the government's support in popularizing the sport to Kenyans.

"We want golf to become popular among Kenyans, and its only through taking it to all parts of the country that it will attract more participants," Kibaki said.

He urged the national team to work hard in ensuring that Kenya becomes a powerhouse in golf just as it is with other sports like athletics.

Kibaki noted that although the team has made a name in the east Africa region, there was need for it to improve in order to win more matches at the international level.

"As it is today, Kenyans know your strength from previous events, so be confident that you will win because we have no doubts whatsoever that you will win," the president assured the team.

Source: Xinhua