Moja Tu Blog

Meet David: Keeping his eye on the ball

February 17, 2023

David Mbugua is a student at Kenyatta University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. A committed student, David also has a strong interest in sports, and he is easily able to balance his interest with his studies. He reveals that he has been a sports enthusiast from as far back as he can remember.

Some of the sports he has played include basketball, badminton, soccer, and table tennis. But his passion and skill are in playing table tennis.

“I discovered my love for table tennis back in 2017 when I was in high school. I love sports because it helps one improve their mental and physical health as well as boost their emotional well-being. It also calls for a lot of discipline, which is transferable to other aspects of one’s life,” David explains that table tennis has helped him control his emotions and be physically fit.

“I have also grown quite famous in school,” he says with a mischievous smile.

For David, table tennis is not just a casual, fun outlet; he is determined to gain the skill allowing him to one day represent Kenya in international matches. He looks to his role models for guidance.

“I have two role models in the game. One is Ma Long – the smartest player in table tennis history from team China – and the other is Lin Yun Jun from Taipei. He’s only 18 years old, but his skills are unmatched. I want to be like these two, and I know it will take discipline and hard work from my end. But, I am ready to pay these prices,” he reveals.

We do not doubt that he will achieve this feat. He is already making his mark in table tennis tournaments locally.

“I was the top table tennis player in high school. I also won several trophies last year during university tournaments. These sit proudly in my room and serve as inspiration to continue giving it my best shot, figuratively and literally,” he says with a chuckle, adding that he cannot take all the glory as it took teamwork.

David admits that through support from Moja Tu, he has learned the virtue of giving back and helping others. His dream is to one day open a table tennis academy where he will train young people and make champions out of them.

“I train four hours a day during the weekdays and set the other hours aside for school work. I train more during weekends, all in an effort to improve my game. I hope to pass these skills on to the next generation someday,” he says.

It is not lost to David the role Moja Tu played in enabling him to pursue his dreams.

“I joined Moja Tu when I was on the brink of dropping out of school. Were it not for the organization, I probably would not have gone to a good high school that paved the way for my university studies. Also, while in high school, I never had to worry about school fees or school supplies. This enabled me to focus on both my studies and extra-curricular activities,” he says with gratitude.

David says he is indebted to Moja Tu and his sponsors.

Share This Article