Noel Djisso of Benin in Sunday Kho-Kho series

Recently KKFI conducted 54th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship at Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh.Congratulations to Railways and Maharashtra to clinch the trophy in both men and women section respectively.In the 104th edition of Sunday Kho-Kho series of 2022 ,Benin a French speaking West African Nation is looking to implement Kho-Kho there. Thanks to Noel Djisso is making hard efforts for Kho-Kho to be grow in Western Africa's Nation as he was caught by our featured Columinst.

                                  Noel Djisso

Q1. How you come to Know about Kho-Kho?

Ans. We grew up together, my cousin Mr Johnson and I. He had a very strong entrepreneur mindset and so he used to travel a lot. Still do. He knew some of the great countries in Africa, as he has been there. When sometimes he came back to our homeland ; Benin; he told and teach me much about those nations he ‘d stay. Amazing stories. And so during one of his works at Ghana Republic , he discovered an peculiar game : Kho-Kho. 

Needless to say, he fall in love with that game. When we were kids, we used to play a similar game of tag, but in a close circle. Truly fun game. Today he is the official representative of that game in Ghana. That’s for say. 

As soon he discovered that great game, he started to tell me about it, sent me some news, videos and hoped we can develop that type of fun game in our homeland. I truly enjoy discovering Kho-Kho, mostly because of that other childhood game. 

And that’s it. We started talking about it here, try to find some people who would join the team. It was not easy due to the pandemic situation. But now things are better, and we are ready to drive the Kho-Kho game in our country to higher levels. 

Q2. Tell me about yourself?

Ans. Born in Benin during the 80s, I was a very shy boy : taller than the usual kids of my age, so I was often the target of ridiculous yet annoying name calling. I grew up within a very large family: besides my parents and siblings, there was the cousins , uncles and grandparents. I was much closer to some cousins, with which I spent most of my holidays. Best years of my life. Mr Johnson was one of them.

After college, I study at university in Senegal. That was an awesome experience: it’s there I discover so mush more cultures from different nations. Dakar is a crossroad of races, and a great place to study. I made some great friends there , who still are, even after 10 years. 

I work in information technology, which I study in Senegal. Love computers. So simple and yet so demanding: you have to be up to date otherwise you can’t catch the train. Being an accountant is so much easier. 

During one of his stay in Ghana, my cousin Mr Johnson discovered a game and told me about it. I dug into it, very pleasant game tough. At the time, I was overwhelmed with work but as soon as possible , I started gathering some people so train. That’s when COVID hit. All things where in standby for a bit but now , it’s green light, and we are working at it. 

Q3. What are your plans for Kho-Kho?

Ans.

We are still be processing by the ministry of sports of our country. There is a lot of applications for new sports being submit to the office, and so that took time. 

We are willing to make Kho Kho, an official game of Benin. A game which can be played in every school, from elementary to college. It’s a fun game, which can be played for 10 minutes or less.

And there’s more: make it a national and later international so that we can have competitions. We sure will do our part so that people will appreciate the game and join it. The only official national sport in Benin is soccer. We hope to make Kho Kho the second.

Q4. What is the usual diet of players there?

Ans. Staple foods. Fruits are common in this region, including mandarin oranges, oranges, bananas, kiwifruit, avocados, pineapples and peanuts. Yams are the main staple in northern Benin, and are also often served with peanut- or tomato-based sauce.

Q5. As players of African are genetically stamina based runners. How it will be helpful for them to be a world class player?

Ans.

As it is genetically proved by researchers that African runners have speed genes. As  this game is purely combination of stamina and speed. I think when these players trained properly in skills and ideology .They will definitely be world class. 

Q6. Kho-Kho is game of real fitness. As most of the players from other games will join Kho-Kho for real fitness. Any Comments.

Ans. Kho-Kho is a game of fitness that demands complete involvement of body parts  and most of the players whether belongs to any game needs fitness .Player of  Kho-Kho can easily pass test for fitness like YoYo test in Cricket and easily play any game as they are more fit . 

Q7. What is the role of Coach in Team performance?

Ans. Coach is just like a soul of a team and he is responsible for performance of the team.He is the man who is thinktank of the team. Simply Good coach means gold. 

 Q8. What you think what is the suitable for a player to Join Kho-Kho?

Ans. I think there is no special age for any game. 

 Q9. As this game requires very less investment in terms of infrastructure and sports equipment.  Whether this will be beneficial for the growth of game.

Ans. Kho-Kho is easy to setup .It requires very less equipments and less area comparatively with other games that is the plus point of Kho-Kho to be played anywhere and everywhere.

Q10.Any comments for Voice of International Player?

Ans. Nice work and quite appreciable. Thanks to Voice of International Player for giving me a chance at this international platform to move Kho-Kho round the world. 

Featured Columnist:

   

  Shamily Sharma (India)

 Coordinated & Directed by: 

  Pankaj Malhotra( India)

  (Voice of International Player)

     Supported By:

     1. S.B.S.Tirthi (Former Treasurer KKFI,  India)

     2. Anuj Khajuria(North Carolina, U.S.A)