Kenya hockey teams fail to travel for African tourney
Kenya women hockey team player Caroline Guchu (left) celebrates with teammate Flavia Mutiva after scoring during their Test match against Uganda at Sikh Union ground, Nairobi on March 18, 2021. Kenya won 11-0.
What you need to know:
- Kenya men's and women's teams failed to travel on Saturday to Ghana as scheduled after the Sports Fund board allegedly failed to have a session last Friday to approve the teams' budget
- Chances are high that the women's team will miss their opening fixture against Zambia should AHF fail to reschedule the tie or miss out on the event altogether should the Sports Fund fail to approve the budget on Monday
- The women's team, who are in Pool 'B' were to start off their campaign against Zambia on Monday, play Ghana the following day before wrapping up their group matches against Nigeria on Thursday
The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) have written to African Hockey Federation (AfHF) requesting the national women's team opening match of the African Nations Cup Championship against Zambia, scheduled for Monday be moved to Wednesday.
Kenya men's and women's teams failed to travel on Saturday to Ghana as scheduled after the Sports Fund board allegedly failed to have a session last Friday to approve the teams' budget.
Chances are high that the women's team will miss their opening fixture against Zambia should AfHF fail to reschedule the tie or miss out on the event altogether should the Sports Fund fail to approve the budget on Monday.
The quadrennial event is set for January 17-23 at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium in Accra, Ghana.
"KHU president Nashon Randiek has written to AfHF requesting for the fixture to be moved to Wednesday, but it will only make sense if the teams travel on Monday.
"The Sports Fund board never met last Friday as we had expected and therefore our budget is yet to be approved. We have been promised it meets Monday morning, that is when we shall know our fate. It's very sad!" bemoaned KHU vice chairperson Elyna Shiveka.
Last Friday, at the City Park Stadium in Nairobi, KHU chairman Randiek while naming the traveling contingent, was non-committal on the teams departure date to Ghana.
"I can't really tell when the teams will leave for Ghana. The (Sports Fund) board will have a session on Friday and make their decision which will be communicated. We have to keep the faith that teams will depart on time and participate in the event," said Randiek.
The women's team, who are in Pool 'B' were to start off their campaign against Zambia on Monday, play Ghana the following day before wrapping up their group matches against Nigeria on Thursday.
Pool 'A' has South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and neighbours Uganda.
The men's team are in Pool 'A' alongside Namibia and champions South Africa and get their campaign underway against Namibia on Tuesday before they play South Africa the following day.
Pool 'B' has Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
The top two teams in each gender will proceed to the semi-final.
