By ERICK OCHIENG’
It’s all system go for the annual Vaisakhi Hockey Tournament that kicks off at City Park stadium in Nairobi this morning.
Both Kenya Police and Telkom Orange are out to defend their titles in the hockey fiesta that for the first time has attracted teams from a cross East Africa region.
The two-day hockey festival, which will also be characterised by the Hindu Gatka dances, has attracted 19 teams who will be battling for honours, including those from Tanzania and Uganda.
There are 15 teams who have registered in the men’s category. They include Nairobi Simba, Kisumu Simba, Greensharks, Karate Axiom, Uganda Simba, Strathmore University, Wazalendo, Parkroad, Police, Kenya College of Accountancy University, Parkland Sports Club, Moshi Khalsa, Arusha Simba, Mombasa Simba and Technical University of Kenya.
“Eldoret Simba withdrawn in the last minute and we replaced them with Parklands Sports Club,” said Nairobi Hockey Association secretary general Tom Olal.
Women’s teams looking forward to wrestle the title from Orange at the event, to be played on round robin encounter, include Vikings, Strathmore University and Sliders.
Winners in each category will pocket Sh25, 000 and runners up Sh10, 000 and the children’s U-15 category will also be rewarded.
Even though they are out to defend the tournament, continental and 15 times women national champions Telkom Orange failed to carry out their routine training due to the unfavourable weather conditions that is hitting most parts of the country.
Orange’s training was greatly altered by the rains and coach Jos Openda is afraid his charges might stage lackluster performance in the tournament.
“The rains took toll on us. It disrupted our daily schedule. I feel bad because my players were willing but the weather did not allow,” Openda told FeverPitch.
Nonetheless, Openda plans to give all his 30 players a chance to have a taste of the event which he believes he will retain despite all the barriers that have been brought forward by the rains.
According to the coach, Orange will also be using the tournament to step up training ahead of the continental clubs championships in Ghana which they will be defending later in the year.
Orange and Police started off the year on a sound note by lifting the Nairobi Hockey Association (NHA) and the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Top Eight pre-season tournaments in February and last month.
Meanwhile, Olal confirmed that the much awaited Nairobi Hockey Association league, which was to start at the weekend, has been postponed.
Draw
POOL A
1. Nairobi Simba
2. Uganda Simba
Technical University
POLL B
1. Wazalendo
2. Greensharks
3. Technical University
POOL C
1. Kenya Police
2.Karate Axiom
3.Parkroad
POOL D
1. Kenya Police
1. Strathmore University
2. Karate Axiom
WOMEN
1. Orange Telkom Hockey Club
2. Strathmore University
3. Vikings Hockey Club
4. Sliders Hockey Club
