By Joseph Ngure

Standards of local hockey are sinking each year because of lack of continuity from junior to senior ranks.

Much as schoolboys and girls show keen interest in the sport, they are not able to pursue it to the professional level because of limited number of clubs in the country.

With the disbandment of Armed Forces team in 2007, school leavers are left with limited option.

Samuel Maina, a Moi University student, would like to continue playing hockey after studies.

"I am lucky I joined a university. I could not have had an opportunity to continue with the game after my high school studies," said the former St Patrick’s Iten student.

Universities and teacher training colleges have remained in the limelight with good teams. In the North Rift Kenya, stretching from Nandi to Lokitung in Turkana, hockey is played in learning institutions.

Last weekend, Moi University organised inter-campus games and hockey was the most popular game, attracting teams from the four surrounding colleges.

However, students pursuing various degree programmes have no hope of continuing to play their favourite game after their studies.

"I love this game. It is in our family. My elder brother was a good dribbler. He secured employment with Armed Forces, but now he is an ordinary solider," said Philip Kimaiyo, a second year pharmacy student at Moi University School of Medicine.

Duncan Ndegwa, 47, has a rich history in hockey. He began playing in 1970s at Uasin Gishu Primary School in Eldoret town.

"During our days, primary schools like Hill School, Kitale Academy and Uasin Gishu used to have hockey teams. I have not seen a single primary school with teams in this area," lamented Ndegwa, a member of Western Jaguars Hockey Club.

In an effort to take the sport to the estates, Ndegwa, who joined the Armed Forces before retiring in 1998, founded Bacon Hockey Club but could only manage it for four years.

"At first, it appeared easy after getting sponsorship from Daiwoo Motor Company. But the sponsorship was short-lived and the club folded as soon as the company pulled out," said the former soldier, now a hockey coach and referee.

After the club collapsed Ndegwa started coaching in high schools within Eldoret town and joined Western Jaguars, an independent club in Western Province.