Sakwa Lumbasi: Embracing the Power of Sports to Unite

Sakwa Lumbasi is an impeccable footballer whose journey dates back to his time at Lubini Primary School in Western Kenya. Despite his mobility disability, he, as a football enthusiast, did not merely watch from the sidelines as one would assume. Compelled by passion for the game and belief in self that he would excel, Lumbasi always joined the lads on the pitch. 

Lumbasi started out as a goalkeeper, utilizing his remarkable flexibility to leap and cover every corner of the net. He held this position during his time at Chebuyusi Secondary School and eventually caught the attention of scouts who selected him to join the Kakamega County Amputee Football Club. 

At the club, Lumbasi displayed even more brilliance and the scouts nudged him to explore even larger stadiums. They encouraged him to go for national trials in 2015 where he made a great impression and was selected to join the Kenya Amputee Football team. 

Scaling The Heights of Sports Excellence  

Since then, Lumbasi has represented Kenya in several competitions. He captained the Kenyan team at the Amputee Football World Cup in 2018, Cup of African Nations for Amputee Football (CANAF) and the Central and East African Amputee Football (CEAAF) in Tanzania in 2021.  

In 2019, he was selected to be the captain and goalkeeper of Kakamega County Amputee Football Team. With his teammates in Kakamega, Lumbasi has also achieved immense success locally. Notably, he led his team to victory in Amputee Football in 2022 at the UHAI Festival – an annual festival that gives persons living with disabilities the chance to showcase their talents and take part in sports.  

Challenges Sakwa Lumbasi Has Experienced 

As a player who has shared most facilities with persons living without disability, Lumbasi has experienced a fair share of stigma. He has been in spaces where he’s been denied the opportunity to play because teammates are afraid that he’ll hurt them with his crutches. 

Yet the greatest challenged he has experienced as an athlete living with disability is the unsustainability of football in Kenya. His zeal for football is sponsored purely by passion as he cannot rely on the game to make him a living. Moreover, Amputee Football is not as popular in the country which means it attracts less investors in the game. Additionally, many amputee footballers and even other athletes with different disabilities do not have access to specialised equipment to enable them to explore their talents with ease and comfort. 

Societal Inclusion For Persons Living With Disabilities 

The first and the greatest step society can make to enhance inclusivity for persons living with disability is accepting them as who they are, and viewing them as persons equally capable of doing absolutely everything they are interested and put effort in. For persons living with mobility disabilities, installing ramps to enable them access facilities like classrooms and offices goes a long way. Additionally, providing them with equipment that aids their mobility, e.g., wheelchairs, crutches – and even being thoughtful enough with the location of events is paramount. 

Moreover, the spirit of sports is felt universally, and persons living with disabilities needn’t be left out. There’s a need to establish official competitions for sportspersons living with disabilities to participate in.  

From Grace To More Grace 

Even as he looks forward to a more inclusive sports world in Kenya, Lumbasi continues to leap high in sports and beyond. He plays for the Kakamega County Amputee team in locally sponsored leagues while doubling up as an administrative assistant at Chuka University, his alma mater.  

His unwavering zeal to lead his teammates and keep his passion for the game amidst uncertainties is admirable and we wish him nothing short of transformational leadership and sports excellence.