Rollball as a sport originated in the Asian Region, after Mr Raju R. Dakbhande invented the sport during the early 20s in India. Having been a champion in skating in his childhood, Raju wanted to do something different with roller skates and that is when he discovered Roll Ball, whose popularity has grown rapidly and is played in more than 40 countries worldwide.
In 2003 Roll Ball was presented to the world and accepted and International Roll Ball Federation (IRBF) was founded. It was introduced in Kenya in 2010 and in 2011 the first Roll Ball World Cup was organized.
Rollball is a distinctive sport that involves roller skates, handball, basketball, and throwball. It is contested between two teams, each comprising 12 players - six on the field and six "super-subs" in reserve. Players must wear guards, roller skates and helmets during play. The game takes place on a hard surface, either indoor or outdoor. Each team has six players present on the field at any given time.
At the just concluded Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), the Kenyan Men and Women teams won second and third positions respectively in the sports team of the year category, this coming after both teams were crowned World champions in the 6th Rollball World Cup in Pune India, April 2023.
Top universities in Kenya that have expressed interest in Rollball include Jomo Kenyatta University (JKUAT), Kenyatta University (KU), Maseno University, Kisii University, St. Paul's University, Gretsa University, Masinde Muliro of Science and Technology (MMUST), Embu University, Dedan Kimathi University (DEKUT), Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Kirinyaga University, Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) and Chuka university.
On February 24th and 25th 2024, the university teams participated in the Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) National Games held at Pwani University. Rollball games were hosted at Vonwald School, which is situated 200 meters from Pwani University.
The competition was divided into two categories: Men's and Women's pools. Under the Men's category, Kisii University and Maseno University were tied for first place with eight points each.
JKUAT came in third place with seven points, followed by St. Paul’s University with six points. Chuka University and DEKUT tied for fifth place with five points each, while TUM came in seventh place with three points.
In the Women's category, Maseno University took first place with eight points. JKUAT and Kenyatta University tied for second place with six points each, followed by Kirinyaga University in fourth place with four points. Kisii University and Chuka university tied at fifth place having 3 point each.
Rollball may not be as popular as other sports like soccer or basketball but it still has its own dedicated following among players who enjoy its unique blend of athleticism and strategy.
"As proud members of the Chuka University Roll Ball team, we express our gratitude to the administration for granting us the wonderful opportunity to participate in Rollball 23/24. Our ultimate goal has always been to bring home the Nationals trophy, and with our unwavering commitment and perseverance, we firmly believe that our aspirations will eventually come to fruition. We are determined to continue working hard towards achieving this dream and are confident in our team's abilities to succeed," articulated Bob Waudo, Captain of Chuka Rollball after the competition.
Sport officials at the recent competitions expressed that Rollball is a remarkable sport that has provided numerous opportunities for the youth of Kenya. They highlighted that with dedication and hard work, Rollball can take individuals places. The officials commended all players for their impressive performance, which exceeded expectations, and encouraged them to continue training diligently for fruitful results.
Players from represented teams shared their thoughts on the national games, expressing excitement about their inaugural participation in the nationals. They admitted being unfamiliar with Rollball before witnessing its dynamic gameplay and impressive displays of athleticism.
The players expressed joy at being present at Pwani and having the opportunity to interact with esteemed players like Satia, who represents Kenya nationally. With an open mind and eagerness to learn more about Rollball, they hoped to implement the new skills acquired upon returning to their universities.
The Writer, Aloumasa Cherryl is a Second Year Communication Studies student at Chuka University.
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