Orange splashes out Sh15.5m on Telkom hockey

Orange Telkom donates shs. 15,500,000 to Orange Hockey team.Orange Hockey team from left Coach Jos Openda, captain Betsy Ommala, defender Lucy Wachira receives a cheque of shs. 15,500,000 from Orange Telkom Chief Executive Officer Vincent Lopay(sec.r) as Ministry of Sports , Culture and Arts Director of Administration Wenlas Ong'ayo(3rd r.) and Kenya Hockey Union Jane Nyamogo looks on during a party hosted for the ladies at Heron hotel, Nairobi. ON 08/03/15 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Orange Telkom reaffirmed its commitment to hockey when they signed a new Sh15.5 million sponsorship package for its club ahead of the 2015 Kenya Hockey Union League and Africa Cup of Clubs Championships.

The sponsorship is way up from the Sh5.8 million windfall they received last year. The cash will be largely spent on Orange Telkom's continental title defence and the local league.

Orange Telkom CEO Vincent Lobry said they picked women's hockey from other sports disciplines "after our women proved a force to reckon with in Africa".

"We chose to take a unique way to sponsor sports and hockey in particular. We want to look different and I am grateful that our women have not disappointed. They have flown the national flag in continental competitions," said Lobry.

It was good news for team coach Jos Openda, the Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) coach of the year, who said the sponsorship was good for team, which bagged the 2014 Soya team of the year title.

"We are delighted as a team for the increase in sponsorship. That will motivate our players to perform better this year. We are the only team that's semi-professional and bear in mind that no other team pays out allowances as we do," said Openda.

"The ball is now in our court. It is upon us to prove our might. The company has done its part," he added.

Betsy Ommalla, the team skipper, said they had their eyes trained on retaining the African crown. "We are seriously preparing to defend our Africa Cup of Club Championships title. We are determined to secure our eighth Africa title and the 18th national title," said Ommalla.

Orange Telkom had an impressive run in 2014, winning the continental title with a 7-0 thrashing of hosts BAC of Zimbabwe.