Every school holiday for the past three years, the normally quiet halls of Menengai High School have transformed into a hive of energy, rhythm, and determination.

‎‎The sound of ping-pong balls bouncing across polished tables echoes from morning to evening as students gather for the school’s now-established table tennis training camp, a program steadily shaping raw talent into disciplined athletes with dreams far beyond the school gates.

‎‎For Coach Benjamin Rono, a games teacher at the school and one of the driving forces behind the program, the camp has become more than just a training platform. It serves as a lifeline for many young people seeking structure, purpose, and opportunities.

‎‎“We have been here for a week now, and we are really blessed to have our students and visiting trainees with us,” Rono says. “You can’t develop table tennis skills within a single school term. That is why we use the holidays to train. Our goal is to raise international players.”

Benjamin Rono poses for a photo at Menengai High School table tennis training hall on 8th December 2025.

Photo credit: MUTHONI WANJIKU / MTAA WANGU

‎‎The camp has grown steadily, attracting not only students from Menengai High but also trainees from Nairobi, Njoro, and even young players who travel with their families to be part of the experience.

‎‎“We have almost 20 students from our school and around four from outside,” Rono says, adding that the camp remains open to guests to allow players to learn from each other.

‎‎The school has been welcoming coaches from Uganda whose presence has raised the quality of training and introduced students to a new level of competition.

‎‎“When our players play against others, they learn faster and gain confidence,” Rono notes. “That is why we made the camp open, even though not all who requested managed to join us.”

‎‎But beyond skill development, the camp carries a deeper purpose. Rono explains that the school deliberately invests in holiday programs to keep students engaged in constructive activities.

‎‎“When young men are idle, they can easily fall into vices like drug abuse or other harmful behaviours,” he says. “Keeping them here, active and focused, protects them and builds their discipline.”

‎‎And discipline, he emphasizes, is the heart of the sport. “A student who is not disciplined cannot play table tennis. The discipline they learn at the table shapes their character everywhere else.”

‎‎The camp’s objective is also for the students to earn sponsorships especially for their higher learning.

‎‎Looking ahead, Rono envisions an even bigger future. “Five years from now, I believe this will be an international camp. We want players from all over East Africa and beyond to come train with us.”

‎‎He adds that the school is also looking to incorporate other sports disciplines to have similar camps but they are faced with the challenges of funds to support the program.

‎For now, Menengai High continues to write its own quiet, determined story one swing, one stroke, and one dream at a time.

‎muthoniw813@gmail.com

Table tennis holiday training camp that is developing young talents to sporting athletes

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Muthoni Wanjiku