The first season of the Kenya Kabaddi League 2023 will see 12 teams compete in 136 matches to win the title. Top five teams in the standings will qualify for the final. The league kicks off on January 21, 2023, at Kasarani Indoor Arena and will run until February 27, 2023.
The objective of kabaddi is for a team to send out a raider who must cross the centerline, tag an opponent and return to his half of the court without being tackled. It is a contact sport between two teams of seven players.
Origin
Kabaddi was introduced to Kenya in August 2012 and was officially registered with the Sports Registry in March 2013 under the then Social Code. Since 2012, we have participated in various international kabaddi tournaments in India. Some of our senior players have also participated in Kabaddi leagues in India. We have also hosted some of the major regional tournaments that have attracted the national team of neighboring Tanzania.
The kenya kabaddi league 2023 is the first edition of the men’s kabaddi league to be held in Kenya. Kabaddi founder in Kenya Lavender Oguta said as a result of absence of sponsorship, the elite league had attracted 12 groups drawn from Nairobi and also the adjoining areas of Machakos and Kiambu. The game is still in its early stage in the country however assured it is positioned for growth, stating it would supply a brand-new lease of life in Kenya.
“This is something we dreamed as well as I enjoy I’m able to give my gamers this system. We have several leagues yet this is not like any other league. This is an elite league. Since we can not bring all the groups due to the financial restrictions, we are going to have twelve teams. We have no sponsors so we collaborated with teams from Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos counties,” claimed Oguta, that is likewise the Kenya Curling Federation (KCF) head of state.
“We began the league because other sports like rugby and football have their leagues, so why not us? I am not a Kabaddi player but I do this to touch other individuals’s lives. I advise the youth to take it up and also raise dreams of succeeding in the sport.
“We will have 137 matches where the league will certainly be used a residence and away basis. Prizes at the end of the season, there are a number of various other awards like; best player of the match and the best defender of the match. In the future, we will also introduce the women league,” he added.
List of Participating Teams
- MCU – Machakos University KC
- JKA – JKUAT Assassins KC
- KIP – Kiambu Pluckers KC
- APK – Administration Police KC
- KUH – KU Hawks KC
- TAK – Tac KC
- UOT – UON Tigers KC
- NYS – N.Y.S KC
- BLF – Black Falcons KC
- KYG – Kayole Giants KC
- KSL – Kasarani Lions KC
- GCK – Githurai Cheetas KC
Schedule
The first match of the 1st season of the Kenya Kabaddi League 2023 starts on January 31.
There will be 5 matches per day as per Indian time. The first match is at 12:30 pm, the second at 2:30 pm, the third at 4:30 pm, the fourth at 6:30 pm and the fifth at 8:30 pm.
After Feb. 3, the first game will be at 2:30 p.m., the second at 4:15 p.m., the third at 6 p.m., the fourth at 7:45 p.m., and the fifth at 9:30 p.m.
| DATE | TIME | MATCH DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| January 31 | 12:30 PM (IST) 10:00 AM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| January 31 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs Administration Police KC |
| January 31 | 04:30 PM (IST) 02:00 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Tac KC |
| January 31 | 06:30 PM (IST) 04:00 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs N.Y.S KC |
| January 31 | 08:30 PM (IST) 06:00 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 1 | 12:30 PM (IST) 10:00 AM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs Machakos University KC |
| February 1 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | JKUAT Assassins KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 1 | 04:30 PM (IST) 02:00 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 1 | 06:30 PM (IST) 04:00 PM (Local Time) | Kayole Giants KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 1 | 08:30 PM (IST) 06:00 PM (Local Time) | Administration Police KC vs KU Hawks KC |
| February 2 | 12:30 PM (IST) 10:00 AM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs Kasarani Lions KC |
| February 2 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 2 | 04:30 PM (IST) 02:00 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 2 | 06:30 PM (IST) 04:00 PM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs Tac KC |
| February 2 | 08:30 PM (IST) 06:00 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs Administration Police KC |
| February 3 | 12:30 PM (IST) 10:00 AM (Local Time) | Githurai Cheetas KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 3 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Kayole Giants KC vs N.Y.S KC |
| February 3 | 04:30 PM (IST) 02:00 PM (Local Time) | Administration Police KC vs Tac KC |
| February 3 | 06:30 PM (IST) 04:00 PM (Local Time) | JKUAT Assassins KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 3 | 08:30 PM (IST) 06:00 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs KU Hawks KC |
| February 4 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs Kasarani Lions KC |
| February 4 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 4 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 4 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 4 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Tac KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 5 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Githurai Cheetas KC vs Kasarani Lions KC |
| February 5 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Tac KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 5 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 5 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs Machakos University KC |
| February 5 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Administration Police KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 6 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Machakos University KC |
| February 6 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs N.Y.S KC |
| February 6 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs Tac KC |
| February 6 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | Githurai Cheetas KC vs Administration Police KC |
| February 6 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 7 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 7 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 7 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Administration Police KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 7 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | Tac KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 7 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs KU Hawks KC |
| February 8 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Tac KC vs N.Y.S KC |
| February 8 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 8 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Githurai Cheetas KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 8 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs KU Hawks KC |
| February 8 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Kayole Giants KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 9 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 9 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs Kasarani Lions KC |
| February 9 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | JKUAT Assassins KC vs Tac KC |
| February 9 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs Administration Police KC |
| February 9 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 10 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Githurai Cheetas KC vs N.Y.S KC |
| February 10 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Black Falcons KC vs Machakos University KC |
| February 10 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Kayole Giants KC vs Administration Police KC |
| February 10 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 10 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 11 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | JKUAT Assassins KC vs UON Tigers KC |
| February 11 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Kayole Giants KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 11 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Administration Police KC vs Machakos University KC |
| February 11 | 07:45 PM (IST) 05:15 PM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 11 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | Kasarani Lions KC vs Tac KC |
| February 12 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | Tac KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
| February 12 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 12 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Machakos University KC vs Kiambu Pluckers KC |
| February 12 | 07:45 PM (IST) 5:15 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs KU Hawks KC |
| February 12 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | JKUAT Assassins KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 13 | 02:30 PM (IST) 12:00 PM (Local Time) | KU Hawks KC vs Black Falcons KC |
| February 13 | 04:15 PM (IST) 01:45 PM (Local Time) | Tak KC vs Administration Police KC |
| February 13 | 06:00 PM (IST) 03:30 PM (Local Time) | Kiambu Pluckers KC vs JKUAT Assassins KC |
| February 13 | 07:45 PM (IST) 5:15 PM (Local Time) | N.Y.S KC vs Kayole Giants KC |
| February 13 | 09:30 PM (IST) 07:00 PM (Local Time) | UON Tigers KC vs Githurai Cheetas KC |
Live Streaming
Watch 2023 first season Men’s Kenyan Kabaddi League live stream, fans can watch live via FanCode.
Kabaddi is growing in Kenya, Great deal of people desire play in PKL
The sports of kabaddi is gaining ground in foreign nations and has seen significant growth in Kenya in the last six years. All-rounder Daniel Odhiambo, that is currently part of the Patna Pirates team in the PKL Season 9. He is the only Kenyan representative in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), has claimed that kabaddi is there in nearly every city in Kenya.
Odhiambo stated, “Kabaddi has grown in Kenya since the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. Now, we have kabaddi in almost every city in the country. We work hard to grow the sport in Kenya. We travel to different schools and colleges to introduce the sport across the country. It is our responsibility to spread the sport across the country. We have also thought of starting a Kabaddi League in Kenya, but we have not been able to do that yet.”
Odhiambo added that a great deal of individuals in Kenya additionally desire play in the PKL. In my city, a lot of people know about kabaddi. As well as there are a lot of individuals, who want to be like me and desire to join the Pro Kabaddi League. When they see me, they feel good. And they believe they will join the league one day.”
The all-rounder further included, “Individuals in Kenya view PKL highlights on YouTube. My family members supports me a lot and also they understand that kabaddi can be an occupation. I enjoyed my time in India, but the food is a little bit spicy for me. It’s tough to adapt to the food right here, so I do not attempt way too many brand-new meals. I such as to eat Dal Rice.”
Odhiambo additionally said that he has picked up a few common Hindi words. When the coach is speaking with the group, he primarily talks in Hindi, yet I recognize most of what he states. No one needs to translate for me. I engage with a great deal of people in India and I have grabbed some typical Hindi words, which aids me to comprehend the language.”
