by Joel Odidi and Oscar Pilipili

The emergence of Kenya Universities Sports Association (Kusa) hockey league in April evoked acrimony and ruffled feather among the game’s fraternity, especially the Kenya Hockey Union.

Kusa secretary general, Isaac Mwangi, insists the idea was for the good of the sport. He told FeverPitch the playing ground was not level as students competed against experienced teams like Telkom Orange and Kenya Police.

"Students were not playing effectively in the KHU leagues hence we came up with a forum for them," he says. Mwangi says the fact some universities have teams in both leagues shows how Kusa is committed to the development of hockey.

Institutions that are actively involved in the two leagues include United States International University-Africa (Usiu-A) and Strathmore. The official says Kusa league is important since teams are using it to prepare players for the top-flight league.

The league, he says, has also helped absorb the large number of players who had no teams to play for under the KHU. "The number of teams has increased with the creation of Kusa league. This is good for the game since more talent will be tapped," he says.

"We are working on a programme that will incorporate all sports at the university level," he says. The inaugural hockey league ended a fortnight ago with Strathmore and Usiu-A winning men and women’s titles.

Meanwhile, Hillcrest, Pangani, Kisumu Day and St Cecilia Misikhu are successful hockey teams at schools. Research shows, however, the successes of these schools has a common denominator — administrative support.

A hockey expert, Ken Bunyasi, says schools that perform well enjoy administrative support and qualified technical staff comprising former players and physical education teachers.

"Hockey is an expensive sport and without administrative support you go nowhere," he says. "Former Kamusinga principle, Simon Nabukwesi, had a keen interest in hockey and under his tenure the school won the national title from 2003 to 2008," he says.

Bunyasi, a former player at Kamusinga, said the rhythm was interrupted when Nabukwesi was appointed an ambassador to Canada. Immediately, Kamusinga surrendered the trophy to St Anthony’s and Misikhu lost to Lwak in this year’s national championships in Embu.

As Nabukwesi was instrumental to Kamusinga’s success, his wife was equally successful at Misikhu.

Three-time girls’ national champions Hillcrest boast of Dorsillah Agunda, a qualified physical education teacher and veteran international player. Bunyasi says schools doing well in the game have hockey coaches as their patrons and he gives Kerugoya coach and former player, Peter Maina, as an example.

"Maina’s effort saw Kerugoya rise to the national level and win the regional games title last year," he says. Kisumu Day principle and coach, William Mola, has turned the institution into a great team and so has Cyrus Nabungola of national champions, St Anthony’s.

Bunyasi opines that schools, besides offering financial support, should desist from engaging games teachers as coaches, but hire professionals. "Hockey basics should be taught at high school level and this can only work if teams are handled by qualified coaches," he says.

"Kamusinga are working closely with legendary and national coach, Avtar Singh, and their campaign has been successful over years," he says.