National hockey teams set for Jamhuri tourney

Kenya’s men’s and women’s hockey teams will use the Daikyo Japan Motors Jamhuri tournament set for this weekend at the Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) as a build up to next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The continental bonanza is scheduled for January 17-23 at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium in Accra, Ghana.

Daykio Japan Motors will sponsor the event previously known as SANA Cup that is held annually in honour of hockey legend and a former Boabab Hockey Club sponsor, the late Agnelo De Souza.

Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Secretary General Wycliffe Ongori said the tournament is timely.

“For the first time we are fielding the national teams in the event. And this is basically to help in team building and gelling ahead of the African Cup of Nations. We might not have other events to test our players,” offered Ongori.

In the meantime, 12 men’s teams and five women’s teams have confirmed participation in for the two-day event.

Mombasa County Hockey Association President Oliver Mascarenhas stated that plans to have a successful event are at an advanced stage.

“We have always held the event in October, but this time we are having it in December because we have a sponsor and also coronavirus has played a part in the delay.

We will have two pools in the men’s category with the top four qualifying for the semifinals, while the women’s event will be played in a round robin format and the top four will proceed to the semis," he said.

Kenya Police, MSC, Mvita XI, Greensharks, Wester Jaguars, Parkroad and Mombasa West are some of the KHU league sides that have confirmed participation in the men's event.

The others are Daikyo Heroes, Taskforce, Underdogs and Black Tankers The women’s event has MSC, the Swans, Amira Sailors, Blazers and the national team.

Kenya Police and Strathmore University are the men's and women’s reigning champions.